UK 'increasing use of public transport'

More people are turning away from their cars to use green travel alternatives such as public transport. it is believed that the combination of high fuel prices, increased cost of living and concerns over carbon footprints is encouraging people to use buses and trains rather than their cars.

Government figures reveal car journeys fell by two per cent in the second quarter of this year when compared to the same period in 2007, while a recent poll found over half of drivers said they had reduced use of their vehicle due to increasing costs.

Jim Boyd, corporate affairs director with Newcastle-based Go-Ahead, said that other factors are also encouraging people to use public transport, such as improvements in reliability, punctuality and satisfaction levels.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association said: “It is not practical for most people to give up their cars altogether, but public transport makes good environmental and financial sense in many cases.”

Last month, Friends of the Earth said the government should invest more in the public transport system instead of supporting polluting forms such as aviation.

What is the ETA?

The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.