I do not like being lied to. But almost every day, governments, transport authorities and environmentalists come out with statements that are quite simply untrue.

This week I have listened to two BBC radio phone-ins where the basic assumption is that public transport is always more environmentally-friendly than private cars. Neither programme even stopped for a second to question that assumption!


Want to save this glacier from melting? Despite what they want you to believe, sometimes the car is best!

• A group of three people are likely to produce twice the carbon dioxide emissions if they choose to go by train, rather than in an averagely economical car!
• Even on a ten-mile commute an average car with four passengers is likely to produce half the CO2 emissions per head than if they went on a bus or coach. Use a more efficient car or take a half empty bus and presumably the balance swings even more towards the car.
• A Lancaster University study showed that a London to Edinburgh train, even if all the seats were filled, used more fuel per seat than a reasonably economical car. Fill less than all the seats on the train or put more people in the car and presumably again the environmental benefit will go more strongly to the car
• Studies in the UK and Germany have shown that travelling by public transport can be up to 60% less fuel efficient than travelling by car.

I am certainly not arguing against public transport. I am a great admirer of how much better and more integrated public transportation systems seem to be in other countries.

But, I would have much greater respect for public transport lobby groups if they could learn to be truthful.

They have strong arguments on their side for emission reductions in certain cases and congestion reductions in others.

With that ammunition they surely do not need to peddle the blatant lie that public transport is always best for the environment.

Tags: environment,politics