Like many travellers, Tracey Axelsson had an epiphany on the road. But for Axelsson, who founded and runs the Co-operative Auto Network, the epiphany was the road itself. While living and travelling in Japan, Sweden, China, and Thailand, Axelsson used every mode of transportation available, from subways to motorcycles. She even watched people cross-country ski to work. “Before, I wasn’t a great alternative transportation type of person,” says Axelsson. “I thought ‘here’s my car, and I’ll drive it’—even in snow.” Growing up in Fernie, Axelsson says she used a car all the time, along with a bike and skis. Although she confesses to once owning a non-AirCared MGB, after moving to Vancouver’s West End, she used her car less, as public transportation, walking, and cycling became easier. “Once, our car was towed and we didn’t notice for days,” recalls Axelsson. “It was during the fireworks. We’d parked on the street, and hardly ever used it.” Axelsson calls herself a pragmatist who recognizes that people need cars—just not all the time. The key is offering a choice that’s efficient, convenient, and environmentally friendly. Her focus is on time, which Axelsson thinks of as money in the bank. “The single most important non-renewable resource we have, as humans, is time,” says Axelsson, a self-professed television addict who has cut herself off. Axelsson suggests that, presented with multiple choices, people will utilize the most efficient transportation methods. “Everyone wants to save as much time as possible. We’ve only got 80 years to live.”