TRANSPORT-PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE CHOICES

Transport systems have significant impacts on quality of life in Sydney. The quality of public transport was one of the major themes to emerge from community forums.

The environmental, health and economic costs of Sydney's current travel patterns are increasing. The transport sector is the third largest and fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Motor vehicles are the most significant source of air pollution in Sydney. There are also land take, energy use and noise impacts of transport systems.

Travel choices also have impacts on community safety and physical and mental health. Road safety has clear costs to the community. In 2003 Sydney roads saw 29,357 crashes causing 162 deaths and 15,361 injuries. Apart from the suffering of victims and their loved ones, the financial cost in NSW of road crashes is estimated around $3.7 billion each year (RTA, 2004).

The more that people use active transport such as walking, cycling and public transport, the more community physical and mental health improves. In Sydney there are unprecedented increases in Type 2 or adult onset diabetes in children. Modest increases in physical activity, from less sedentary lifestyle and active transport choices, can reduce the need for medical treatment in those at risk of diabetes.

The costs of private transport are also on the rise for Sydney households and business. The average Sydney household spent 31 per cent more each week on petrol in 2003/04 compared to 1998/99.

The costs of traffic congestion in Sydney was estimated at $5 billion in 1995 and is estimated to increase to $8.8 billion by 2015.

Transport investment can be costly, and travel behaviour has impacts on the environment, the community's health, household budgets and the cost of doing business. Transport investment that reduces these costs and impacts, such as greater access to quality public transport, walking and cycling facilities, must be encouraged. In locations where public transport is available and it provides a competitive alternative to private cars, people choose to use it.

The demand for travel is on the rise, along with the diversity of travel needs. Demand for travel is growing faster than population growth. In the last 20 years, Sydney's population grew by 21 per cent, the number of car trips by 41 per cent and the number of cars by 58 per cent. Vehicles kilometres travelled (VKT) has increased faster than population growth.

Population growth alone will increase demand for travel. Changes in the characteristics of Sydney's population will also change the demand for travel and travel patterns.

The transport system meets a range of different travel needs each day. Despite the diversity of travel purposes, and origins and destinations for trips, many trips are short local trips. Half the trips made each day in Sydney are less than five kilometres, with the majority of these trips made by car.

Children's travel to school reflects changes in the wider community while there are also regional differences across the city in the way people travel. The further people live from the CBD, the longer their trips tend to be, the greater the reliance on car travel and the less likely they are to walk or ride a bicycle.

Sydney has an extensive transport system in place which can be improved. The challenge is how to provide the ability for people to access activities while minimising the costs to households, the environment and business.