It might seem an unusual collaboration,but we know that transport causes 17 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse emissions. In Western Australia,our per capita transport emissions increased by nearly 11 per cent between 1990 and 2020.
This is the third story in our Net Zero Perth series,running alongside the COP27 global climate conference.Graphic:Kathleen Adele
Between 2016 and 2020 transport emissions in WA doubled the national average. Contributing to this is we drive around 7000 kilometres every year and each vehicle is emitting around 1.04 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Thankfully,transport is a sector where we can all have a significant impact on emissions. We can do this by choosing to drive lower emissions vehicles,using bikes,walking,e-rideables and taking public transport more often. To help inform this discussion RAC is also actively monitoring the impacts of vehicle emissions through a
Around the world,governments are also urgently looking to reduce vehicle emissions by introducing tougher standards. These include limits on the level of carbon dioxide and noxious gases vehicles can emit.
In Australia we have yet to see similar measures introduced,and as a result we are limiting the models of electric vehicles that manufacturers have prioritised for our market. This continues to make electric vehicles more expensive and gives consumers less choice.
Getting people out of petrol and diesel cars and into electric vehicles is a crucial part of a net zero city plan because they produce less emissions and no local air pollution.
In addition to encouraging the transition toward lower emission vehicles,we also need to make alternative transport options more accessible.
The smart approach is to create a city with less reliance on cars and a wide range of transport choices.
While Perth is now theat 150 kilometres,most of our daily trips are quite short. Every day around 4.2 million private car trips are made in Perth,and two thirds of these trips are less than five kilometres. This presents an opportunity.
A three-kilometre bike ride takes only about 12 minutes. This means there are potentially millions of trips each day we could be doing by bike,walking or on an e-rideable. This could be to the shops,to work,or to connect with public transport.
Patrick Walker is RAC Group’s social and community impact executive. Wayne Bradshaw is chief executive of WestCycle.Supplied
Currently,Perth has one of the.,despite living less than one kilometre away.
The key to turning this around is providing safe and pleasant streets,paths,and facilities for everyone – of all ages and abilities – to walk and ride as part of their daily travel.
Right now,most of our streets are designed to prioritise people using cars,and we want everyone to have more choices for how they get around. We also know that if they had safer places to do so.
The development of the Principal Shared Path (walking and cycling) network is a great start,and it is particularly good for riding long distances. But we need to focus on local government networks,to support walking and riding in that last kilometre we use every day.
Perth also needs continued investment in public transport to build on the work already under way and completed. We need to go beyond outer suburb connections and look to improve transport options in the inner areas. This includes considering the potential benefits of diverse transport options,such as light rail and trackless trams.
Across Australia,people overwhelmingly want more. With,urgency is growing. Fuel prices are impacting the hip pockets,and our environment can only benefit from the shift to electric vehicles,more cycling,walking and public transport.
Infrastructure and policies that get more people considering cleaner transport options,and where possible choosing the bus,train,bike or their own two feet,will mean happier communities,faster commutes,and healthier air for current and future generations.
The found more than 20 per cent of West Australians had ridden a bike in the previous week. If that was you,well done. Let’s build on that. Can you add one extra bike trip this week?
Got a bike languishing in the back shed? Dust it off and book in a service with your local bike shop. Secondhand bikes are a low cost way to get started:any bike with a helmet,lock and lights is all you need to pick up the milk or get to school.
We all deserve safe,affordable,sustainable and pleasant ways to get from A to B. Contact your local MP to let them know you want this. When you see a request for community feedback on a new road project,have your say and let the government know.
It is a long way from Perth to,but our actions here matter locally,nationally,and globally.
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