IT is heartening to finally see the Transport Minister promoting the use of the bus system. While he has emphasised the need for consumers to use the bus system to reduce subsidies, public transport in an urban system is far more critical than the issue of subsidies.
Where cost of living is concerned, after food and housing expenses, transport makes up the third highest expenditure. Due to the inefficient and unreliable public transport currently, consumers are often forced to use their cars. It is estimated that households spend about 20% to 30% of their disposable income on private transport in the form of instalment payments, petrol, maintenance, road tax, insurance, tolls and parking charges. An efficient public transport would lead to substantial savings for such households.
