Resources

A study undertaken in 2001–02 on the economics of travel for education had the following objectives:

• to gain a better understanding of travel to school and its contribution to urban traffic volumes
• to examine alternatives to car use for travel to school, and to assess their likely costs and benefits
• to ascertain the impediments to switching travel modes.

UK and US experiences of travel to school and its effect on traffic flows are reviewed, and the contribution of school trips to the traffic flows of Wellington and Auckland is ascertained. The arrangements for school bus services in New Zealand are outlined and issues determining the choice of travel mode are discussed. An economic evaluation of encouraging the use of alternatives to private car for education travel is attempted, based as it is on the best, albeit limited, available data.

The best approach to achieving a move from car use to bus services for school trips is a holistic one, and a trial in a New Zealand city of such an approach is recommended.

Keywords: behavioural research, bus services, economics, education, evaluation, slow modes, New Zealand, peak traffic, private car, public transport, road, school, traffic, travel