KEY POINTS:
The Green Party wants more investment in public transport and for law changes to make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Announcing the party's transport policy in Wellington yesterday co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the transport system was geared towards cars and trucks.
"The bias has been created over decades of funding new roading projects and not funding rail, busways or cycleways to anything like the same extent," she said. said.
"That has given us a nationwide network of state highways and local roads, a Third World public transport service, a crippled rail system and a dangerous environment for cycling."
Ms Fitzsimons said the bias worsened year after year. This year, just under $2 billion was going on roads and $337 million was being spent on public transport infrastructure and services combined.
She said the Greens would increase the National Land Transport Fund spending on public transport, walking and cycling facilities and community travel programmes from one-third in the first year to two-thirds five years later.
Other details of the policy were:
* To increase the funding assistance rate for public transport, cycling, and walking infrastructure and regional transport centres to up to 100 per cent for projects approved by the Land Transport Agency.
* To encourage off-peak public transport travel by setting a $1 charge in cities.
* To reduce the cost of concession pass travel on public transport.
Ms Fitzsimons said the bias towards cars and trucks made roads dangerous.
The party's policy says that on roads with a speed limit of 70km/h or less, drivers should have to give way to buses pulling out of stops.
It says measures are needed to protect cyclists and the party wants to change the law:
* To make motorists who hit cyclists or pedestrians legally liable.
* To lower speed limits in high pedestrian areas.
Other changes would:
* Equalise travel reimbursement for government employees regardless of travel mode or size of vehicle.
* Legislate for fuel efficiency standards for vehicles entering the fleet.
* Include fuel efficient techniques in driver licensing and testing.
- NZPA
