Carbon-conscious workers choose public transport

[ozbob]

Item on ABC News Online   ..  click here!

Carbon-conscious workers choose public transport

A New South Wales Government survey has found the number of people leaving their cars at home and catching trains to work has increased by nearly 120,000 since 1999.

The survey by the Ministry of Transport found that more people are choosing trains and buses because they want to be environmentally friendly.

NSW Transport Minister John Watkins says the shift to using public transport has significantly reduced carbon emissions.

"People are now saying one of the reasons they're using public transport, bus and train in particular, is because of their care for the environment," he said.

"We encourage that and it makes good sense because there's 100 times less emissions released into the atmosphere simply by making the the switch to public transport from a private motor vehicle."

But Mr Watkins says more needs to be done, especially in the state's regions.

"There's always more to do, we want to get more people onto public transport, to deliver more public transport to new areas and its one of the reasons for the south-west and north-west development," he said.

[ozbob]

Good to see some positive reasons for public transport use.  Rail is the environmentally sustainable transport solution.  Much can be done with hybrid buses too, particularly for feeder routes.  Rail for the longer haul bulk commuter transport.