Majority support car-free city centres, survey reveals

Over half of all UK adults would be happy to tolerate only public transport being allowed in their nearest city if it meant air quality could be improved, a survey conducted by Volvo Buses has indicated.

Volvo Buses polled 2000 UK adults and questioned their opinions on implementing measures to solve air quality concerns.

The findings of the poll also highlighted that 23 per cent of all UK adults would prioritise public money being invested into improved or increased bus services in UK cities; and increased adoption of electric bus fleet set to help reduce the UK’s air pollution deaths, with 26 per cent of all UK adults believing making buses electric would have the greatest reduction in harmful gas emissions.

The news comes as estimates show long-term exposure to air pollution is responsible for the premature deaths of more than 40,000 people annually in the UK — 9,000 in London alone.

Ulf Magnusson, SVP Business Region Europe at Volvo Buses said: “We believe electric bus systems are the future of urban public transport, as environmentally clean and comfortable as a tram or light rail, but at a fraction of the overall cost. As major cities look to improve air quality, reduce noise and future-proof its public transport, electric bus systems have great potential to be part of the solution.”

"What these results show is that the implementation of cleaner air practices and infrastructure is a priority for the public; key to this is the fundamental support from government level.”