Bikes & Cars...

Conventional eco-wisdom says that driving an older car into the ground is better than tossing it into the junk yard and buying a gleaming new one off the showroom floor. It's true that it's better to keep still-usable materials out of landfills, but those tailpipe emissions aren't doing our air quality any favors, not to mention the poor fuel economy. So, how about if we sweeten the deal?

Some states are offering a bit of green incentive to drivers of older, more polluting vehicles. In Texas, for example, low-income drivers in the major metro areas can get up to $3,500 in credit toward a new car purchase as part of its "Drive a Clean Machine" program.

In its ongoing struggle against smog, California is offering up to $1,500 toward the purchase of a new car if the old one fails its emissions test, or $500 toward the price of repairing the car enough to pass the test.

The biggest state of them all, Canada (some call it a country), will offer $300 in cold, hard Loonies to drivers who ditch their old cars. They can also choose a discount on a bicycle or transit pass, if they'd prefer.

It almost goes without saying, but the car manufacturers are big fans of these programs, especially after being hit so hard in the sales department this spring. They are tactful enough noto mention that programs like these can help them out of a double-digit sales slide, instead couching their enthusiasm in concern for the environment.

These programs require millions of dollars to run, but it's worth it in places like Los Angeles and Dallas-Ft. Worth to clean up the smog. If you live in one of these cities, take full advantage by trading in your 10-year old car and buying the hybrid you know you covet.

Photo by bcostin.