Otago study calls for national target to “turn the tide” on car use

New Zealand’s over-reliance on car transport is contributing both to national health problems along with higher carbon emissions, an Otago University study has said.

It calls for all levels of government to commit to a national target to cut the use of car transport by 40 per cent over the next 30 years and increase public transport use by 15 per cent. It also recommends increasing cycling by 15 per cent and walking by 25 per cent.

A Ministry of Transport survey in 2018 estimated that 83 per cent of travel time in NZ is spent in cars.