Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3859 ..

MRS DUNNE (continuing):

I know that this is not always easy. For a family as large and as diverse as ours, it would be sometimes exceedingly difficult to make the family function without access to the car. Even though we drive our children to places all the time, because we want them to participate in sport and other social activities they like, we encourage them to take a bus wherever possible. We encourage them to walk rather than say, "Mum, can you give me a lift to ... ?" We encourage them to make sure their bikes work and that they can use their bikes to get around.

Of course, this is all part of a larger picture. Way to Go is just a component. Way to Go needs to be part of a broader strategic approach to transport. This is what we do not have at the moment. The Liberal Party is already on record as supporting an active examination of the Civis bus/tram technology as an environmentally friendly and attractive public transport option. That, along with initiatives like this, better planning and more frequent services, will help to alleviate the requirements of people in Canberra to take their car wherever they go.

I support the motion, but I would like to see Way to Go as part of an integrated strategic approach to the territory's transport needs.

MR WOOD (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services) (5.26): I commend Ms Dundas for her interest in this project and for recognising the importance travel change initiatives have on the health and environment of the ACT. The Way to Go voluntary travel behaviour change projects is a pilot travel demand management measure managed by Planning and Land Management and co-funded by Environment ACT.

The aim of the Way to Go pilot is to encourage the use of public transport, car sharing, cycling and walking, and to reduce single-occupant car travel. There are a number of Way to Go projects operating across Australia which are showing positive results in changing people's travel behaviour. A number of these projects have been conducted in schools and universities and around major employment locations.

The results of the Woden project are very encouraging and demonstrate that a proportion of the population will make greater use of public transport, car pooling, and walking and cycling if they are given appropriate information and encouragement. The Woden pilot focused on workplaces in residential areas. For the residential areas, it gave positive results, with a 9 per cent decrease in vehicle kilometres travelled and a 171/2 per cent decrease in the number of single-occupant vehicle trips. The workplace component of the pilot also gave positive results, but the number of participants was lower than expected.

A travel demand management pilot project directed at workplaces in Barton, Parkes and Belconnen is being planned. This work will give a more reliable indication of the potential for behaviour change in the workplace. Furthermore, it will allow the trial of additional strategies which actively involve the employer and ensure that change is sustained. These projects will complement the parking management strategies being implemented in those places.

The Way to Go trial encouraged not only the use of public transport but also other environmentally friendly initiatives like car sharing, cycling and walking. Travel behaviour change projects like Way to Go seek to decrease dependence on private motor

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .