ICBC PAYD?

The city council of Vancouver, BC, unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday, asking the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia -- the Crown corporation that provides most car insurance in the province -- to introduce pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) insurance. PAYD insurance is a powerful way to improve transportation, save lives and money, and reduce energy use and air pollution. The Province reports.

Some of the reader responses to this article are negative. PAYD guru Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute writes, "Many [readers] have the impression that most motorists would end up paying more . . . rather than less, and that rural residents would pay significantly more (only those who drive more than average among rural residents would pay more, half of rural residents would save)." Besides, PAYD would be optional.

P.S. Blowing-my-own-horn alert. The inspiration for this resolution? "A number of councillors heard of the idea at a TransLink workshop." Who gave that presentation? Me.