Gearing up for car-free transport

THE high cost of petrol and diesel has forced many people to cut back on their driving, or at least to think a second time before making some journeys. Reduced traffic volumes on our roads, especially at night, has become apparent in the past few years.

Problem is, however, that we are one of the world’s most car-dependant nations.

The viability of the large number of out-of-town shopping centres, for instance, is contingent on people driving to them. The downside is that the commercial heart is being ripped out of many towns and cities.