We love to drive
City shuns public transport
THE city’s peak public transport users body says more frequent peak-hour services are needed to encourage people to use public transport.
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows nearly 72 per cent of residents in the Geelong electorate drive to work, while 6 per cent of residents travel by public transport.
Driving remains the dominant method of travel to work in Australia, according to new data from the 2016 Census of Population and Housing, which reported 69 per cent of the working population (more than 6.5 million people) commuting by car.
Geelong Public Transport Users Association lead Paul Westcott said Geelong had been a highly car dependent city for decades.
“That is possibly increasing and it is clearly not a sustainable way to continue. It is related to the fact that public transport (in its current form) is not adequate and it’s not usable for many people,” Mr Westcott said.
“The best bus services we have arrive every 20 minutes — first of all its important that our bus service continue to arrive and terminate in the CBD — but also their frequency needs to increase during peak times to encourage more people to commute via public transport.”
Census program manager Bindi Kindermann said that the results show interesting insights into how Australians start their work day, helping governments, councils, business and other organisations plan for the future.
Mr Westcott said more people using public transport would reduce congestion in the city, making it more “people friendly”.
The State Government yesterday announced additional night bus services would be added to many regional areas, including Geelong.