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NATWEST SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR LEAVING THE CAR AT HOME

09 Mar 1998

Commenting on the “Property Pulse” survey by NatWest Property Services [1], Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner, said:

“This survey shows a significant minority of drivers would car share or use alternatives, if fuel taxes were increased. Even if these drivers alone used their cars less, we would be a long way down the road towards solving our transport problems.”

Commenting on the survey's finding that “ditching the car was least popular in the South West and East Anglia” [2], Roger Higman added:

“The survey shows more people will cut their car use in areas where alternatives are available. This just underlines the need for better public transport in rural areas.”

Summarising Friends of the Earth's response to the survey, Roger Higman said:

“Gordon Brown should raise taxes on petrol in the coming Budget, but he must also use the money raised to create cycle lanes and better public transport”.


NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The “Property Pulse” survey by NatWest Mortgage Services showed that if driving to work became considerably more expensive, nearly half of all commuters would just put up with it, but 15% would car share and 16% would travel by bike.

[2] The survey showed considerable regional differences: 40% of Londoners saying they would use public transport more, whereas only 5% of people in the South West and East Anglia would use buses to get to work

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