WeRide media statement, Monday 22 May 2023

 

The report ‘Shifting gear: the path to cleaner transport’ released today by the Climate Council has commissioned modelling that lays out a pathway to transition our transport system for the future.

The report states a tripling in active transport would be needed to achieve both the Albanese Government’s legislated reduction of 43% on 2005 levels by 2030 and more ambitious scenarios to limit global warming to 2 degrees by 2050.

Mode share scenarios from the report – graphic courtesy of the Climate Council of Australia.

WeRide agrees with the Climate Council that solutions to cut emissions and accelerate the use of active and public transport are available now and rapidly deployable.

WeRide’s Canberra Transport Photo shows space occupied by 69 people and 3 modes of transport modelled in the Climate Council report.

‘Active transport, especially cycling, has the capacity to play a significant role in meeting the Government’s own emissions reductions target’ said WeRide’s Stephen Hodge.

“Research shows many more of us would be prepared to consider riding if the conditions were safer and more convenient,

‘The Government has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and invest in active travel, whether through provision of appropriate infrastructure and programs, or federal tax and point of sale incentives for bicycles and e-bikes, Australians are ready to ride now,

“Our wallets, our health and our communities would all benefit if it was easier for us to choose walking and cycling more often,” he said.

All scenarios modelled in the report include a tripling in the share of trips by walking and cycling, mode shares which would still fall well short of other OECD countries but are achievable with a commitment to broad-based action by all levels of government.

Changes to our streets and the modes we use for transport have big impacts on moving people and the quality of our communities – report graphic courtesy of the Climate Council of Australia.

“The boom in cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic showed us just how fast change in transport behaviour can occur” Hodge said.

“Federal incentives to get more people riding e-bikes should be a key part of the mix and would simply equal the measures introduced to support EV uptake in the National EV Strategy,” Hodge continued.

“With 50% of trips in major Australian cities less than 5km, walking and riding is often faster, along with being healthier and more cost effective.”

“Let’s not forget that a single Tesla 3 battery is equivalent to around 147 e-bike batteries*, resources that could be used to help get people mobile much more economically and save valuable resources at the same time.”

The Climate Council report ‘Shifting gear: the path to cleaner transport’ can be accessed on their website here, or from WeRide’s website here.

Media contact:

Stephen Hodge, Director – National Advocacy, stephen@weride.org.au, Mob. 0411 149 910.

* based on battery cell numbers. This number moved to approximately 164 when comparing energy capacity.