Car-use Reduction Strategy Pinpoints the Problem
by Anne
Roberts, Total Environment Centre
Total Environment Centre (TEC) has developed a
car-use reduction strategy which sets out simply and clearly the problems associated with
a car-dependent society, and how to overcome them.
An extract from TEC's Car-use Reduction Strategy follows:
Car Dependence is
not Inevitable
It is important to realise that there is nothing pre-ordained
about the dominance of the car. If cars predominate over public transport, and cities
are planned around their use, it is a result of deliberate decisions, usually on the part
of government or business. Los Angeles is a prime example of a city whose infamous smog
and traffic are a result of car dependence imposed by business, acting for its own ends.
(See Frank Stilwell, Reshaping Australia, Sydney, Pluto, 1993, p6O.)
In Australia, planning decisions and an imbalance of funding in
favour of roads have led to urban sprawl and car dependence. More road length per
capita is devoted to roads in Australia than anywhere else in the world, including the
USA. (See Newman and Kenworthy, Winning Back the Cities, Sydney, ACA and Pluto,
1992, p 10)
Why something has to be done to reduce the number of cars on the
road
Air pollution has declined in Sydney and other Australian cities over
recent years as a result of restrictions on backyard burning, together with the
introduction of catalytic converters to motor vehicles. Experts warned these improvements
will be temporary if the number of cars on the road continues to increase. (McPhail NSW
EPA, Sydney Morning Herald 17.8.94; Johnson, in Summit on Air Quality 1991).
In the two years to March 1994, 200,000 more vehicles were registered in Sydney and
there are signs that Sydney's air pollution is beginning to worsen (Total Environment
Centre, June 1994).
The Adverse Effects of Car-use
Car use needs to be considered from the point of view of its 'total
impact'. In addition to air pollution, the 'total impact" of car use includes:
- Greenhouse gas emissions (21% of Australia's Greenhouse gas emissions are produced by
motor vehicles.)
- Lead fall-out from exhaust emissions, with long-term residues in soil
- Destruction of urban bushland • Urban sprawl
- Destruction and disruption of city and suburbs
- Noise
- Deaths and injuries
- Wildlife killed on the roads
- Economic burden on the individual motorist
- Health infrastructure costs on society
- Anti-social and intimidating behaviour generated by the car
What has to be Done to Reduce Car-use?
- Share the "trip". Reduce the number of single- occupancy vehicles, and
the number of vehicles used for the same "trip purpose."
- Reduce the number of trips undertaken by car, by reducing the necessity for such trips.
Proposals
include increasing the density and diversity of suburban areas, and telecommuting.
- Provide alternatives to the car.
Alternatives include a comprehensive public
transport system.
- Introduce incentives and disincentives,
to encourage car use reduction.
Disincentives must only be introduced when alternatives to car use exist.
- Explore minor, but radical options,
such as shared ownership of cars beyond the
family unit.
We will very briefly discuss items 1 and 3 of the above list. (A copy
of the full Strategy may be obtained from Total Environment Centre, Shop 1, Gloucester
Walk, the Rocks - at the back of the Immigration Dept building. Postal Address: 1188
Cumberland Street, Sydney 2000.)
1. Sharing the ride: the journey to work lends itself to
large-scale car-pooling ("ridesharing") schemes. People who work in large
companies, say with upwards of 50 employees all starting work at the one site at
approximately the same time might consider asking the employer to set up a car-pooling
scheme. (TEC calls on the State Govt to require large firms to set up such schemes).
Smaller schemes can be set up for taking children to school, or to sport. Organisers of
social events could put drivers in contact with one another to 'share the ride."
3. Alternatives such as a comprehensive public transport system.
If your local area has very poor or non-existent public transport, think about complaining
- to your council, to your State MP, to State Rail or State Transit, or all of the above,
and anyone else you can think of. If there is a public transport service to your area,
investigate it - it may be better than you think.
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