November 21/08 10:39 am - BTAC & Clean Air Foundation Sign National Bike Incentive Program

Posted by Editor on 11/21/08
 

BTAC & Clean Air Foundation Sign National Bike Incentive Program

Environment Canada has awarded the Clean Air Foundation (a national environmental not-for-profit) $76 million to implement a national vehicle scrappage program that is scheduled to run from January 2009 to March 2011. The commitment deadline is November 26th, 2008.

A vehicle scrappage program involves giving consumers a financial incentive to retire older, high polluting vehicles and to switch to more sustainable forms of transportation such as bicycles.

The Bicycle Incentive Program

Under the program, consumers will be eligible for a combination of retail bicycle incentives provided both by the federal government and participating bicycle suppliers. The incentive schedule as developed by a BTAC (Bicycle Trade Association of Canada) working group of suppliers and SBRs (Specialty Bicycle Retailers) provides consumers with a significant discount off the retail price of bike up to $420 CDN.

In addition to federal government and bicycle supplier incentives on bicycles, participating BTAC member bike shops will provide a 20% retail discount on bicycle parts and accessories sold in association with the sale of a participating supplier's bicycle through this program.

Why participate?

Once launched, this program will deliver major market benefits to participating suppliers and their partner retailers. Consider the following:

• Position your brand by leveraging national mass marketing/multimedia communications encouraging Canadians to switch from cars to your bikes;
• Partner with a large scale, high profile, environmental program;
• Reach out to new/non-traditional customer base;
• Create further opportunities to advocate for policy and regulatory changes/support for the Canadian cycling industry

BTAC Supplier Members have until November 26th to signal your interest by sending an email to Usman Valiante at valiante@btac.org or +1 (416) 420-4222 or Cara Sweeny at csweeny@cleanairfoundation.org or +1 (416) 922-9038 x257 saying you want to participate and the contact information for the individual in your organization responsible for your participation in the program;

For more information on the Clean Air Foundation and existing vehicle scrappage programs visit: http://www.cleanairfoundation.org/carheaven/.