Transport cocktail

The transportation cocktail is opting for the most practical mix of transportation options based on your needs at a given time. Walking, biking, taking the bus or metro, carpooling or car sharing, the transportation cocktail can be a winning combination to get you where you need to go and reduce the amount of solo driving on our roads.

If it’s possible in your area, combining different modes of transportation can be an easy way to get around without having to own a car. In regions where there aren’t many alternatives to car travel, making the most of what’s available can at least lower your mileage.

⚠️ Using a transportation cocktail doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of your car. Rather, it proposes a more balanced use of it thanks to complementary means of transport.

It can also reduce your environmental footprint while saving you money and improving your quality of life. Less time stuck in traffic means more time spent doing things that you like!

💰 You could save money…

Unlike a cocktail at at bar, a transportation cocktail saves you money. And there’s no hangover! Because let’s face it: owning a car doesn’t come cheap. As of the second quarter of 2025, a new car could set you back on average $64,445, and a used car $37,664!¹

Not to mention the fact that the average new car loses 30% of its value in the first year, and its resale price plunges by 60-70% after five years.² In addition to the depreciation, there are other fixed costs, including financing, insurance and licensing – which range from $2,875 to $12,156 a year.³ And that’s regardless of how often you use your car. Extra costs for things like fuel and repairs vary, but they add up fast.

If you choose not to own a vehicle, you’ll be saving all that money! But if you do have to own a car, you can save some money on your variable expenses by making fewer car trips and replacing them with other modes of transportation. By month’s end it could make a big difference!

🚗 For when you really need a vehicle, car sharing services like Communauto, Leo or Turo can also lower your driving costs. For long road trips or vacations, you can rent a car, car share or travel by bus or train.

For comparison’s sake, a seasonal subscription to BIXI (April to November) costs $112 ($23 a month), while public transit costs vary according to where you live and other criteria (student or senior rate) but remain less expensive than the costs associated with owning a car.

It’s by mixing the transportation cocktail’s various ingredients that you come out a winner: replacing solo driving with an electrically assisted bicycle / public transit combo can save a household up to $7,146 a year!⁴

…and get there in less time! ⌚

In cities, the car is not king. Take Montreal, for example. During rush hour, biking is faster than driving. Public transit ranks second, and driving (don’t forget, you need to find a parking spot!) often pulls up the rear.5

According to data from the 2021 Census of Canada, 39% of Quebec workers live within 5 km of their workplace, making for a 20-minute-or-so bike ride.6 This proportion rises to 46% and higher in average-sized cities like Trois-Rivières, Saguenay or Sherbrooke, and it surpasses 60% in small cities like Val-d'Or, Victoriaville or Matane.⁶

According to Vélo Québec, cycling is suitable for 18-20% of all trips in Quebec’s large cities.⁷ And that doesn’t even consider longer trips for which could be made possible for commuters by electrically assisted bicycles!

To be sure, every transportation mode has its pros and cons, but we’re always better off evaluating our options before setting off on a trip. For example, if you need to get to Montréal-Trudeau Airport, it’s often best to take the metro and then the number 747 express bus to YUL, rather than taking your car, risking getting stuck in traffic and having to pay for several days of parking.

But if I live in the suburbs or a rural area?

True, the transportation cocktail doesn’t taste the same throughout the province. Public transit hasn’t fully reached its potential outside of large urban centres, and long distances are not always conducive to walking or biking. In rural and suburban areas, planners have unfortunately rarely taken cyclists’ and pedestrians’ roadside safety into account.

Even so, rural and suburban residents can reduce their solo driving by consolidating their trips. For example, you can drive to the grocery store and then to the pharmacy during the kids’ swimming lessons. Carpooling is another very doable option: you and your friends can take turns driving everyone to the restaurant, you can drive to work with a co-worker or you can use an intercity ride-sharing service, such as AmigoExpress, Poparide and Covoiturage.ca).

If your employer is on board, you can make even fewer trips by working from home. Working from home saves you money not just on transportation-related expenses, but also on meals if you’re not the type to pack a lunch.

Ultimately, becoming your very own transportation “mixologist” could make your wallet happy, enhance your quality of life and help reduce your impact on the environment. Whether you’re an urban, suburban or rural dweller, every car trip that you don’t take is important. Consolidating your trips, walking, cycling, carpooling or using public transit all make for a tasty transportation cocktail that you can enjoy without moderation!