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Motorists ditching cars as gas price rises bite: MOTC
GETTING FROM A TO B:
Use of public transport for long-distance travel has increased dramatically as drivers opt to let the train, bus or plane take the strain
By Shelley Shan
STAFF REPORTER
Saturday, Aug 09, 2008, Page 2
Rising gas prices have persuaded some of the nation・s motorists to start riding motorcycles or bicycles instead of driving, a survey by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has revealed.
The survey was carried out toward the end of last month, about two months after the Executive Yuan started raising retail gas and diesel prices.
The Executive Yuan has increased retail gas prices two times since it took the helm.
In May, it raised the price of retail gas by NT$3.9 per liter and that of diesel by NT$4.4.
Last month, it increased retail gas prices again by NT$1.5 per liter and by NT$1.6 per liter for diesel.
SHORT JOURNEYS
The survey found that while about 66 percent of respondents said they still choose to drive for short journeys, close to 34 percent said they had stopped driving cars altogether.
Among those who chose to ditch their cars, about 84 percent said they have started riding motorcycles.
Of those who continue driving cars, however, about 17 percent said they would quit if gas prices were raised by another 10 percent
Should the price of gas be raised by another 30 percent, approximately 30 percent of drivers said they would stop using their cars.
The ministry compared the user percentages of different transportation means for short-distance travel both before and after the gas price hike, as well as those gained after simulating scenarios of both 10-percent and 30-percent gas price increases.
A drastic decline was observed among car users, decreasing from 35 percent to 16.4 percent.
BICYCLES
Users of bicycles, on the other hand, jumped from 6 percent to 16.5 percent. Figures for use of public transportation systems also increased from 10 percent to 15 percent.
A similar trend was indicated for long-distance travel. Car use halved to 34 percent wheras the use of public transport surged to 53 percent from 25 percent.
The survey also showed that, overall, motorists have reduced their use of cars ever since the oil price rose. The use of motorcycles did not seem to diminish.
Close to 30 percent reported that their strategy to counter rising oil prices was to reduce their amount of travel.
Also See: CPC lowers diesel, gas prices for first time in 11 months
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