A new poll has revealed that more than two-thirds of Australians think governments should invest more in bike lanes and footpaths to enhance walking and bike riding options.
The YouGov National People and Transport Poll 2022, commissioned by the Climate Council, was conducted to better understand people’s attitudes about public and active transport.
Climate Council Chief Executive Officer Amanda McKenzie said investment in greener transport options is vital for combatting climate change.
“A cleaner, more efficient and affordable transport system is what Australians want and it’s also crucial for our climate,” McKenzie said.
“Transport is Australia’s fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and our country’s second biggest source of climate pollution.”
Jennifer Rayner, Climate Council Head of Advocacy, said the findings show that Australians clearly understand the benefits of cleaner transport for both the environment and their wallets.
“Investing in public transport and infrastructure for walking and bike-riding is much more popular than governments may realise,” Rayner said.
“Australians know leaving the car at home can deliver cheaper commutes, healthier streets and reduced emissions for a cleaner environment. Now we need the investment to back up that choice so it’s easy and convenient for people to move around in cheaper, cleaner ways.”
Bicycle Network’s Chief Executive Officer Alison McCormack said the results of the poll were encouraging as it verified that Australians support sustainable transport options.
“Polling released by the Climate Council shows Victorians support more bike lanes and access to e-bikes, confirming we are not only moving in the right direction but should probably be going faster,” McCormack said.
“Close to two-thirds of Victorians support more investment in bike lanes and footpaths, which is no surprise to us as we know most people want more places to ride separated from traffic.
“E-bikes are still relatively new in Victoria, and we’d give a thumbs-up to any initiatives that help people try one to see for themselves what all the fuss is about.
“E-bikes really are an alternative to car travel for shorter trips so government should be encouraging their uptake by offering no-interest loan schemes and support for e-bike leasing.”
Key findings for bikes:
- More than two-thirds (67%) of Australians surveyed think governments should invest more in footpaths and bike lanes.
- When it comes to walking and/or riding a bike to get around, people would most like to see governments invest in building more dedicated bike lanes separated from car traffic (52%) and establishing more connected networks of footpaths and bike lanes (47%).
- The main reasons for states/territories to build bike lanes were to provide safe and affordable transport options for people.
- Most Victorians (61%) would be interested to try an electric bike if their state or local government offered them an opportunity to do so for free.
