[sustran] 9% of people would be riding bikes or walking more often

[Sudhir]

Have a look at this   http://www.synovate.com/insights/infact/issues/200906/

please note ( even with limited small sample)  - small % of people plan to
use public transport more and more importantly* *only 9% of people would be
riding bikes or walking more often!!!

Overall, 14% of respondents across the 18 markets say they will use public
transport more often in the coming year. The highest level of agreement was
China at 39%.

Kelvin Gin says Chinese people are definitely curtailing spending but we
also need to remember that not that many people own cars yet in China.

"Even though this is an urban sample (so potentially more car owners) and
China is arguably the world's top car market, you still have well over a
billion people here who do not own a vehicle. They have to get to places
somehow so public transport is always in demand in Chinese cities. The
Government is improving public infrastructure all the time too."

There was also a high response in Korea where a third of respondents said
they will use more public transport and ByeongHwan Je puts this down to
simple economics.

"Korea imports 100% of its petroleum and gas from other nations and is
therefore very price-sensitive. Even though fuel prices are down from last
year, fuel for personal vehicles is still quite a luxury. The Government
also actively pushes the use of public transport."

Only 2% of American respondents say they will use more public transport in
the next 12 months.

The survey also asked if people would be riding bikes or walking more often
and an overall 9% agreed that they would. The highest results were Korea at
20%, Germany at 17%, China at 16% and Japan at 15%.

Shinya Goto, Head of Synovate Japan's Motoresearch team says that multiple
factors are at work.

"Public transport, walking and bike riding are no doubt more popular in all
these markets for similar reasons... the environment, exercise and
economics. But in the case of Japan there is another important factor at
work, one that has implications for the auto industry.

"The younger generation is moving away from personal transport. From the
late teens to around 30, we see much less inclination to own a vehicle.
These young people are environmentally aware and would rather spend their
money on mobiles and clothes, taking public transport and creating a
'cocoon' with their mobiles or iPods. This is a real change from other
generations."

CEO of Synovate Motoresearch, Scott Miller, says this trend will move beyond
Japan.

"Two car households will become one car households. More and more, owning a
car may not be viewed as that responsible.

"Smart car makers are already working to find types of vehicles and
performance characteristics that will not make people feel responsible for
environmental damage; and working to stop the reputation that cars are bad
for the world.

"So it's not all doom and gloom - not by a long shot. Quite simply, cars are
freedom... and people value freedom above most other things. If they
continue to enjoy guilt-free freedom, the car will stay a large part of
daily lives for many people."



-- 
Sudhir Gota
Transport Specialist
CAI-Asia Center
Unit 3510, 35th Floor, Robinsons-Equitable Tower,
ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
Tel: +63-2-395-2843
Fax: +63-2-395-2846
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia
Skype : sudhirgota
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