Drivers want free public transport

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Most Britons will only be tempted out of their cars when public transport is laid on for free, a new survey has revealed.

The poll of just over a thousand people for market information company TNS UK found that, in spite of rising car insurance costs and petrol prices, more than seven out of 10 drivers would not give up their car in favour of public transport unless the service came at no charge.

Meanwhile, a third of those surveyed said only electric vehicles should be allowed on London’s streets, while 69% also wanted 4x4s banned from other major British cities.

Andrew Czarnowski, managing director of TNS UK, said: "We're seeing quite a gulf emerging between people's aspirations and the reality of taking steps to cut our carbon emissions.

"The green message is clearly hitting home, with a significant proportion of people backing new transport technologies and accepting that things have to change.

But despite rising petrol prices, we're still not being pushed on to public transport.”

He added that the feedback was “the clearest indication yet that a massive cost incentive is needed to get us off the road and on to the railways”.

Copyright © PA Business 2008

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