With the right planning and policies, it is possible to get people out of their cars – case study

Around the world, people are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving. The reasons are manifold: to alleviate climate change, pollution, traffic congestion, infrastructure costs, and to improve health and wellbeing.

However, in New Zealand, despite efforts by government, parliaments and individuals, it remains difficult to sustainably increase the use of alternative transport modes.

This is often the result of policies being implemented individually. The challenge, therefore, is to develop a more consistent approach to transport planning, based on research and adapted appropriately depending on the context.

One recent example of how this can be done successfully is recorded in a quadrennial survey carried out by the University of Canterbury to identify the travel trends of its staff and students.

The survey also asks about the main barriers to quitting driving, which can inform policy to encourage more sustainable travel options. This year’s results show particular promise.

decline in driving

The university is located 4 kilometers west of the center of Christchurch, a city of 400,000 people on New Zealand’s South Island.

We currently have just over 24,000 students (up from about 12,000 20 years ago) and 6,000 full-time and part-time staff. On a typical day, an estimated 15,000 people commute to the university.

Like many workplaces in sparsely populated, car-dominated cities, universities saw a gradual increase in the number of people commuting by car during the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, the university has been trying to encourage staff and students to use public transport, or to walk, cycle or car share.

The 2024 Travel Survey found that the number of people commuting to university by car has decreased since 2020. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed commuted to campus by car, 21% by bicycle, 20% by foot, and 15% by bus.

Our staff are riding bikes more, mainly due to the increased use of electric bikes. The use of electric vehicles has also increased significantly. There has been a significant decrease in students using cars and a corresponding increase in bus travel.

The reasons for the decline in car travel and what we can learn from it illustrate the interconnectedness of effective transport policies.

bicycle and bus

Christchurch City Council is responsible for roads and cycling infrastructure. Over the years, we have invested significant effort and resources into building our cycling infrastructure, primarily around a series of major cycle paths.

This includes the Unicycle cycle path, which connects the university to the city centre, and the Norwest Arc cycle path, which also runs through the university. Investment in these routes has led to a significant increase in cycling overall, including routes to universities.

Environment Canterbury, the regional council, is responsible for public transport. The recent introduction of a low-cost flat fare system (adult fare: NZ$2, reduced fare: $1) has increased bus ridership.

Local research has shown that the previous government’s inclusion of discounts for people under 25 was instrumental in encouraging the use of student buses to universities, as these lower fares are particularly important to people on low incomes. It was important.

According to a travel survey, the cost, which is a barrier for students to use buses, has fallen from 30% in 2020 to 10% in 2024, showing that low bus fares are having an effect. Shown. Sadly, the preferential treatment for those under 25 years of age has been withdrawn by the current government.

To pay the lower fares, students must qualify for (and apply for) a community service card. Another central government policy is to increase bus fares in mid-2025.

incentives and disincentives

At the campus level, the university has implemented a number of policies to encourage active use of public transport, including:

Paid parking was introduced in 2023 and originally cost $40 a year, but now costs $1,000 for staff and $500 for students, and there is no free parking (vice-chancellors also pay).Safe Bicycle parking is provided, as is a bicycle repair station and air pumps, free shower and changing facilities are available on campus, and bicycle repairs are available. Expanding the repair and recycling scheme is being considered after 16% of students said in a travel survey that the availability and cost of bikes were a barrier. A free bicycle skills workshop has been established and a bicycle safety workshop is planned for March 2025.

The university has also worked closely with both councils, helping to develop bus routes and unicycle cycle paths, and negotiating parking requirements.

Lessons learned from the study

There are three main areas to success in reducing car use for college travel:

Good local transport policy and planning: Local authorities have worked to make it easier for people to choose not to drive by providing good cycling infrastructure and affordable bus travel. Until recently, this was supported and funded by central government. Employer actions and initiatives: Universities are investing in initiatives that shift parking costs to motorists and encourage walking, biking, and busing to campus. Close collaboration: Universities and local authorities have worked closely together to make walking, cycling and using public transport as easy and attractive as possible.

Overall, consistent policies and plans that are research-based, context-appropriate, and collaboratively developed can encourage people to get out of their cars.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.