The cost of travel is nearly three times higher in sprawling urban areas such as Dublin than in more compact cities in Europe, according to new research.
It found that the cost to the community of urban journeys amounted to 15 per cent of GDP in cities where the car dominated, whereas it was only 6 per cent in more compact cities where greater use was made of public transport, walking and cycling.
The research, presented yesterday to Tapestry (Travel Awareness Publicity and Education), an international sustainable transport workshop hosted by Dublin Bus, also found that the average car spent 95 per cent of its life parked, taking up valuable space in urban areas.
Other findings were that road accidents were the primary cause of death among younger people in the 15-30 age group and that they accounted for as much as 40 per cent of all accidental deaths throughout Europe, amounting to 42,000 a year.
The research attributed about 80,000 deaths in Europe a year to long-term exposure to traffic- related air pollution. It also underlined that public transport was 10 times cleaner than private cars in terms of emissions and five to 10 times safer.
It found that public transport consumed three to five times less energy for each passenger carried, that buses caused 11 times less noise than cars, while trams were 46 times less noisy.
However, 80 per cent of all personal journeys in Europe were made by car.
"If we are to adhere to the commitments made in Kyoto," the workshop was told, "a reduction in energy consumption during urban journeys is necessary.
This can only be achieved by increasing public transport's market share at the expense of the car."
The workshop was the final stage of a three-year project which looked at ways to communicate, advertise and market sustainable transport messages. It centred on 18 local campaigns across Europe, including Belgium, Britain, France, Italy and Sweden, as well as Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Projects included promoting cycling and walking to school and improving the image of public transport.
"This project has proved to be hugely successful with modal shift from the private car to public transport or walking and cycling experienced in all the participating countries projects, including Ireland," a spokeswoman said yesterday.
