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Will cycling, walking and public transport be a casualty of the carbon tax?
The Cycling Promotion Fund (CPF) has expressed serious concerns that the
imminent carbon tax looks like seriously jeopardizing the early
positive signs that Australians want to get active and healthy in their
transport choices.
A survey released on Wednesday at the Emerging Crises Summit at
Parliament House in Canberra by the CPF and a Coalition of transport
industry, health, local government and environment partners, showed
Australians want greater support for public transport, walking and
cycling.
The survey by Auspoll, showed that 85% of Australians want the
government to do more to improve the planning of public transport,
walking and cycling to make it a safe and accessible option for travel.
“While we will wait for the details to be released on Sunday, we are
concerned that reports of compromises in the carbon tax mean there will
be less income from the tax available to invest in cycling, walking and
public transport”, said Cycling Promotion Fund spokesman Stephen Hodge.
“Without such investment we will continue to have significant dis-incentives that will prevent more Australians from choosing an active, healthy and efficient form of transport”.
“The key aim of the Government’s carbon tax is to drive change to lower emitting forms of economic activity, precisely what will happen if more people continue to choose walking, cycling and public transport.”
“We are very concerned that the early positive signs of a cycling growth trend will be nipped in the bud before it has a chance to become a boom.”
“Now is not the time to forget that investment is needed for measures that will actually assist the government meet its carbon pollution reduction targets”, added Hodge.
“The need to provide opportunities for the community to cycle has never been more supported and we call on the Government to fund public and active forms of transport as part of its carbon tax announcement,” finished Hodge.
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