24 June 2004

Projects promoting travel behaviour change in Auckland and Christchurch funded

Two trial projects promoting travel behaviour change to Auckland and Christchurch residents have today been approved by Transfund New Zealand.

The Transfund Board agreed to contribute nearly $275,000 towards Auckland Regional Council's "Way to Go project and Environment Canterbury's Go Smarter project.

Auckland's "Way to Go project is aimed at reducing the high level of car-dependency through reducing 'low value>'car trips, ie, those which could be combined with other trips, shared with others, shifted to another time or closer destination, or taken by another transport mode with little extra cost and inconvenience.

Its aim is to encourage changes in travel behaviour among the targeted population of New Lynn, Kelston and Glen Eden residents by five percent.

Canterbury's "Go Smarter 2 project is the promotion of more efficient travel through working with households to record their travel behaviour. Suggestions are made to households on how they might change their travel behaviour.

Both projects have the support of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Board chair Dr Jan Wright says travel behaviour change initiatives are an emerging area within New Zealand's overall transport policy.

"These two projects go some way towards the development of travel behaviour change initiatives for New Zealand," she says.

ENDS

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