4602.0.55.002 - Environmental Issues: Waste Management, Transport and Motor Vehicle Usage, Mar 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/10/2012   
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TRANSPORT USE

In March 2012, 78% of the Australian population aged 18 years and over usually travelled to work or full-time study in a private motor vehicle, while 16% used public transport. New South Wales and Victoria had the highest level of public transport use (21% and 17% respectively). (Table 2.2)

Of the 8 million people who drove a private motor vehicle to work or full-time study, 23% usually took passengers on part of their trip. Of all the Australian state capital cities, people most likely to take passengers were those living in Hobart (37%). (Table 2.3)

Over 1.7 million people reported mainly using public transport to commute to work or full-time study, Around 69% indicated that the main reason was the convenience, comfort and that they felt less stressed when using public transport. (Table 2.4)

Not having a service available at all was one of the main reasons why people did not use public transport in Australia (30%). Other reasons included a preference for the convenience, comfort and privacy of a private motor vehicle (26%) and the availability of a public transport service at the right or convenient time (23%). (Table 2.5)

Approximately 44% of the population 18 years and over residing in a capital city walked as a form of transport when travelling to places other than work or full-time study, while 31% used public transport. By comparison, 28% and 10% of people living outside a capital city walked and used public transport respectively. A larger proportion of people living in the Australian Capital Territory rode a bicycle when travelling to places other than to work or full-time study (10%), compared with Australia as a whole (5%). (Table 2.7)