17 May 2004
Soaring car sales show transport choices are stunted
Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says reports of "soaring" car sales show both the Government and society need to
make a more serious commitment to public transport.
Sales of imported used vehicles rose to an all time high of 18,462 cars in March, compared to peaks of only 11,000 to
12,000 a month two years ago.
"People on limited incomes should have access to the services and opportunities they need to fully participate in our
society," said Ms Fitzsimons, the Green Party Transport Spokesperson, "but New Zealand's lack of a first-world public
transport system and the absence of community services in many areas means many people are forced to choose cars as
their everyday transport.
"So the problem is not simply the increasing numbers of cars in New Zealand, but how much more they are now being used.
"A history of cheap oil means our society is organised so that cars are more convenient than walking, cycling or public
transport for some situations. The damage cars do to the environment, their high running cost in financial and energy
terms and the various safety issues all mean motor vehicles should be used as conscientiously as possible.
"People commuting to work alone by car and families running two or three vehicles should be encouraged to choose more
sustainable alternatives. The fairest way of doing that is to provide cheap and accessible public transport, better
walking and cycling facilities, and more services and facilities in local communities. Then the most convenient
transport choice, be it walking or public transport, will also be the best option socially and environmentally.
"New Zealand's increasing car dependency should also be viewed in the context of the imminent end of cheap oil. The
world is soon going to reach a point where the amount of energy needed to extract the remaining oil starts to seriously
weigh against the total energy that can be extracted from that oil. New Zealand should therefore be building public
transport infrastructure now before the financial and energy costs of its construction make an easy-to-use network
unattainable," said Ms Fitzsimons.
ENDS