Benefits of Public Transport
There are a wide range of significant direct and indirect benefits from more journeys being made using public transport, walking and or cycling. Some of these include:
- Healthier people that live longer thanks to reductions in air and noise pollution and encouragement of physical activity as part of daily routines and individual journeys.
- Moving more people while taking up less space since public transport vehicles such as trains and buses can carry many more people than private vehicles.
- Greater return on investment and wider economic development with public transport, walking and cycling projects typically having higher cost-benefit ratios than road building or expansion, as well as being better at fostering improvements in overall productivity, innovation, general economic growth and resilience.
- Cities and regional centres where people want to live as public transport helps create more attractive, liveable places with better access, healthier lifestyles, and stronger communities. People globally say they prefer better-connected public transport systems over driving.
- With transport on track to becoming the highest-emitting sector by 2030, mode shift to public transport, walking and cycling is one of the most powerful levers to combat human-induced climate change.
- Lowering the cost-of-living burden as access to public transport, walking and cycling options helps to reduce or even avoid the high costs of private car use.
- Better use of public money as public transport, walking and cycling projects typically have a higher benefit-cost ratio compared to road building and expansion.
- Stronger communities better connected to services by creating higher density areas around transport hubs where local businesses are more likely to thrive.
- Creating space for more quality housing by encouraging well-designed communities and avoiding the need to dedicate valuable land to ever larger roads and car storage.
- Less dependence on foreign fuel imports and price fluctuations as public transport vehicles are more efficient even before transitioning to zero tailpipe emissions options.
- Reduced need to own multiple private vehicles through expanded transport choice helping households avoid needing as many of their own vehicles to meet their needs.
The Association will be taking a leading role going forward to helping decision makers and the public better understand the benefits of all or part of more journeys being made by public transport, walking and or cycling.