Rising Fuel Costs Drive Commuters Back to Public Transport

People across Merseyside are leaving their cars at home in favour of buses and trains as a result of the recent hike in fuel prices. Almost half of the area's drivers have swapped their cars for another means of transport for some journeys since the recent increase in fuel prices, a survey by the Merseyside Local Transport Plan (LTP) partnership has revealed.

The poll of 1,200 drivers shows that almost two thirds of drivers are choosing to walk short trips rather than jump in the car and nine percent are cycling instead of driving. The survey also revealed that almost a third of drivers in Merseyside are choosing to travel less because of higher fuel prices.

Almost half of those interviewed in the study said they no longer commute to work by car every day and more than 60 percent said they avoid using the car when visiting friends, eating out and going on day trips.

The recent street survey questioned different types of traveller - from business people to shoppers - to explore how fuel price increases have influenced their travel choices. It also looked at how further rises in fuel costs might trigger changes in future among travellers who have not yet altered their travel habits.

Cllr Jean Quinn, Chair of Merseyside Transport and Planning Committee, said: "We are facing times of change and this survey helps us to understand how people are adapting their travel habits to meet those changes.

"As travel demand continues to rise on Merseyside, we need to ensure congestion and pollution do not hamper our economic growth. Through the TravelWise initiative, the aim is to help people travel more sustainably, using more public transport, cycling and walking. This survey shows that for many drivers, there are better transport options out there than driving alone for every journey.

"The survey indicates that people are walking a bit more and using the bus for some journeys. Some people are curbing their driving speed and using trains or cycling more. This travel behaviour is much more like the way citizens in mainland Europe use their transport networks - and is key to the economic and environmental success of our region.

"Travelling less and using public transport, walking and cycling more will have a truly beneficial impact on our environment."

Long-term travel behaviour patterns will be monitored in future years. The LTP Partnership is analysing the results of the survey as part of a Planning for the Future (PFF) development programme.

This is a wide-ranging project that will map travel demands in Merseyside for the coming decade, and set out long-term policies and investments to enable the transport network to support economic growth in a way that does not prejudice social and environmental success. This will enable the Liverpool City Region to flourish as an attractive, high quality place to live, work and enjoy.

The PFF project includes the development of city region models for transport and economic forecasting, as well as research into the costs of transport for society in general. It is an ongoing process of engagement about the transport needs and implications for the long-term future, between the LTP Partnership and private and public sector bodies.

The process will inform the next transport strategy, due to be prepared for 2011.