Skip to main content

Green MEP calls for action on air pollution as public transport costs rise

A UK Green MEP has attacked the failure of consecutive UK governments to take action on air pollution, while public transport costs continue to rise. Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East, says new government figures released in response to a written question by Caroline Lucas MP, show the cost of motoring, including purchasing a vehicle, has fallen by 20 per cent since 1980, while rail fares have risen by 63 per cent and bus and coach fares are up by 64 per cent. According to a report by the Royal Col
May 4, 2017 Read time: 1 min
A UK Green MEP has attacked the failure of consecutive UK governments to take action on air pollution, while public transport costs continue to rise.


Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East, says new government figures released in response to a written question by Caroline Lucas MP, show the cost of motoring, including purchasing a vehicle, has fallen by 20 per cent since 1980, while rail fares have risen by 63 per cent and bus and coach fares are up by 64 per cent.

According to a report by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, around 40,000 deaths each year in the UK are attributable to exposure to outdoor air pollution.

The High Court has ruled that the government must reveal its plans for tackling air pollution by 9 May.

Related Content

  • Singapore aims to set MaaS benchmark
    September 26, 2019
    Delegates at this year’s ITS World Congress in Singapore will be able to experience Mobility as a Service for themselves in the form of MobilityX’s Zipster app
  • Government air quality plan ‘under threat from congestion’
    June 20, 2017
    The UK Government’s plan to improve air quality will fail because it ignores the growing impact of congestion on pollution in city centres, sustainable transport experts Greener Journeys warn.
  • Four UK cities awarded funding to drive green car revolution across
    January 28, 2016
    Four cities have been awarded significant funds to promote green vehicle technology after successfully bidding for a share of a multi-million pot created to support the take-up of plug-in electric cars across the UK. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced the winners of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme, after the successful cities proposed a number of initiatives to support greener vehicles as part of a government competition.
  • Cost Benefit: Utah traffic light scheme pays dividends
    March 15, 2019
    A traffic signal control scheme in Utah is being taken up by other US authorities. David Crawford finds out how the Beehive State is leading the way in DoT and driver savings Growing numbers of US state departments of transportation (DoTs) and their road users are gaining real financial benefits from an advanced approach to traffic signal monitoring recently developed in Utah. Central to the system is its use of automated traffic signal performance measures (ATSPM) technology, brought in to improve th