Hi again Andrew,
One factor that comes into play is that Vancouver is one of Canada's rainier cities, with a total of about 1,300 mm a year (compared to 620 mm for Berlin.) Usually it rains more days than not, anywhere from 140 to almost 200 days a year. The good news it that it doesn't snow that frequently here at sea level, with only one in 20 Christmases being white, or run below freezing temperatures very often.
I think we will take up your suggestion (and one from Sarah in Mexico) to ask the local ebike company (which also rents regular bikes) to offer an incentive. To promote the cause, we might even spent the insignificant five minutes to drive the guest to the bike store:)