Councils could remove one billion miles of car journeys from our roads each week by taking the right policy and funding measures, new research has revealed today.
Published by Stagecoach, the new report shows motorists back council interventions to cut car use, which could save them up to £6,000 per year.
These decisions include making public transport more affordable and accessible and adopting blended policies.
The report - Every journey makes a difference: how we can support people switch how they travel – finds lower bus fares and Clean Air Zones would lead to over half of motorists driving much less often for work (52%), social activities (53%) or leisure activities (52%).
Introducing Clean Air Zones across the country could remove over 1.3 billion miles of car journeys each week, while Low Traffic Neighbourhoods would also save over 900 million miles a week, the report found.
As well as reducing car congestion, these decisions would also prevent nearly 400,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted each week.
Martin Griffiths, chief executive of Stagecoach, said: 'As the cost of living crisis continues to hit pockets, we know that people want an alternative to their car that is affordable, accessible and convenient. Our research makes clear that local authorities can deliver this in partnership with public transport operators through balanced policy decisions that encourage people to think again and choose to take the bus.
'This research highlights that there is a significant opportunity to save motorists thousands of pounds, avoid emitting millions of tonnes of CO2 and take the equivalent of one in four cars off the road, and we must work together to deliver it.'
The report calls on councils to make clear commitments to act to help residents switch from car journeys to other modes of transportation, and begin discussions now with public transport companies to identify long-tern ways of maintaining low bus fares.
Transport minister Jenny Gilruth said: 'I welcome this research from Stagecoach, which will help us to inform and build upon our work to encourage people out of their cars and onto public transport.'
