The Imbalance between Car and Public Transport Use in Urban Australia: Why Does it Exist?

Abstract

Public transport in urban Australia is dominated by the automobile. As we approach the end of the 20th century, there is much renewed interest in revitalising urban public transport as one way of combating the increasing levels of traffic congestion and deterioration in air quality and global warming. This paper takes stock of the situation in Australia, identifying the challenges which the urban public transport sector face in redressing the imbalance between car and public transport market share. Particular emphasis is given to the role of buses and busways in contrast to rail, and strategies to reduce the attractiveness of the car.