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Air quality and your health

Different groups of people, especially children, older adults and pregnant women, can be sensitive to reduced air quality. more

Rethink transport choices. Walking or cycling are healthy options.

People are using more cars more often. Over the last 20 years Sydney's population has grown by 21 per cent, the number of car trips has increased by 41 per cent and the number of cars by 58 per cent. If we continue like this for the next 25 years, we stand to undo any gains we've made in air quality through controls on industry, business and household emissions.

In Sydney alone, motor vehicles create the following emissions:

• 71 per cent of NOx (oxides of nitrogen)
• 38 per cent of VOC (volatile organic compounds)
• 12 per cent of PM₁₀ (particles <10µm in diameter)
• 18.5 per cent of PM_2.5 (particles <10µm in diameter). 

The direct cost of driving for households are large, with transport taking up almost as much of the household budget as food. It goes to show just how much we have come to rely on cars.

Sitting in cars instead of walking or cycling also stops us from being healthier.

By rethinking our transport choices and reducing the number of trips we make in the car, we can save money, improve our health and the environment.

There are many things to consider when we choose how to get from A to B. Factors like how far we have to travel, how long it takes to get there, what time of day it is, the weather and the reason for the trip in the first place.

While the car can often seem the obvious choice, it's not the best choice. Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in built up areas.

In terms of how we affect the quality of the air we're breathing, the best way to get to where we want to go, in order of preference, is:

• Walking and cycling 
• Catching public transport
• Car pooling or car sharing
• Driving

Travel choices and emissions

This chart shows how many kilograms of emissions different forms of transport create per person for every kilometre travelled. Biking and walking count as zero-emission transport while at the other end of the scale are large 4WDs.

What do you think of when you plan a trip? Imagine if we could all add “How much pollution will I create?” to the list.

• How far do I have to travel?
  Most of the trips we make are less than 5 km. If you take the bike or walk, you improve the air, improve your health and save money.
• How long will it take to get there?

  When it comes to short trips, by the time you count the time spent in traffic and finding a place to park, it usually doesn't take much longer to just walk or bike it. For longer trips, especially during peak hour, public transport is often quicker.

  A new perspective on speed of travel is 'effective speed'. It takes into account the time it takes to earn the money that pays for us to be able to drive cars, etc, and shows that in terms of this broader travel time, cars are not as quick as we think. You can find out more in this discussion paper about the concept.

• What time of day is it?

  Buses and trains run all day and almost all night. Phone the 131500 Transport Infoline or visit the website for timetables.

  And you can cycle any time you like provided your bike has lights and safety reflectors.

• What's the weather doing?

  On rainy days, it's tempting to think it's more convenient to jump in the car – until you consider that the wet will only make traffic slower and driving more dangerous. Grabbing a brolly and walking or catching the train or bus as usual can make much more sense.

• What are my options?

  What if you don't have good access to public transport where you live? Or you need a car for work? Maybe have to pick the kids up after work? Or you can't afford to buy a cleaner car right now? Everyone's situation is different. For now, just rethink your choices and understand how they really impact on you. You might see you have more options than you thought, even if it's just some of the time.

• How much will it cost?

  The cost of taking public transport versus driving will depend on were you have to travel. It's easy to work out the costs. You can use online calculators which take into account the full cost of driving a car. You can also compare the cost of train and car travel using the CityRail fare calculator. For public transport ticket prices and to plan your trip, visit the Transport Info site.

• Who's heading out?

  Travelling with children can often be a good opportunity to spend time together. Taking a bus or train together can be an adventure and walking hand in hand offers quality time when you don't have to watch the road while you're driving.

  Getting kids walking, cycling and catching public transport on their own, when appropriate, teaches them navigational skills, road safety and street smarts. They grow up with a sense of independence. It also gets you 'off the hook' playing chauffeur and saves plenty of unnecessary car trips.

• What do I need to take?

  A car comes in handy when you have to transport anything heavy. That's fair enough. But a simple re-think can still help.

  For example, if it's groceries you have to carry home, try visiting your local grocer on your way home each day and picking up the ingredients for dinner that night. You'll eat fresher and be supporting your local shopkeeper. That way you also might just do a major shop with your car once a month instead of every week. And if you're really keen, you could sell your car and try car sharing for those rare times you absolutely can't do without a car.

• Is it a major event?
  Check special public transport arrangements for major events on the 131 500 Transport Infoline vehicles.

The TravelSmart program brings together government and community initiatives to reduce our reliance on cars and offers useful tips.

Visit the NSW Health website to view findings of a 2004 study into personal exposure to air pollutants via different modes of urban transport.

Find the latest travel statistics on the Bureau of Transport Statistics website.

You can also help clear the air by reporting smoky cars.