22 November 2008
Uni students favour public transport
12 October 2007
By Eleanor McKay
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University students are among the highest users of public transport in Auckland, according to the largest transport survey ever undertaken in New Zealand.
More than 75 per cent of students use some form of public transport, making students some of the most sustainable travellers in Auckland City.
The Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Transit New Zealand teamed up with central Auckland’s two universities and surveyed more than 6500 students.
In conjunction with the survey, a 10-year plan has been released with an initial target to reduce current car use by 10 per cent.
Sharon Hunter, from the ARTA, says 10 years may sound a long time, but it is the minimum planning period when it comes to large infrastructure projects such as electrification of rail and integrating ticketing.
The plan makes several recommendations to reduce car traffic, including more staff working from home, installing teleconferencing facilities to reduce travel between university campuses and allowing students to submit ssignments by e-mail.
Hunter says improving infrastructure alone is not the answer – a mix of infrastructure and behavioural changes is required.
“It’s a whole mix of things – no one element will solve Auckland’s public transport problems.
We need a mix of things in place,” says Hunter.
A follow-up report is planned for 2009 to track progress and review the recommendations.
