Why public transport?
The benefits of using public transport include:
- Health. Walking to and from the station or stop can increase physical activity and improve health.
- Environmental. On average, public transport consumes 3.4 times less energy per passenger kilometre than cars.
- Congestion. One full tram can remove 140 cars from the road, while one full train can remove 800 cars.
- Economy. In 2009 there were around 13 million people employed worldwide in the public transport sector, so public transport investment can provide more jobs for people and improve the economy.
- Social inclusion. Public transport provides an option for people who cannot afford the operating costs associated with a vehicle, ensuring accessible transport for everybody regardless of income.
- Safety. A person is 10 times more likely to be involved in a crash travelling by car than on public transport.
- Cost. A myki zone 1 and 2 seven-day pass is $39 and provides access to all trains, trams and buses within zones 1 and 2. This is compared with the weekly cost of owning and running a small car, which will is around $160, or a medium car which will set you back almost $200.