The question
Some people think governments should spend money on public transport rather than on building new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In many countries, traffic is becoming a serious problem and governments have to decide where to spend their transport budget. Some people believe that the money should go to public transport instead of new roads. I mostly agree with this view, although I think some road building is still necessary.
Firstly, public transport can move much more people using less space. One bus can carry around fifty passengers, while the same road space is used by maybe ten cars. If a government invests in metro and bus systems, less people will need to drive, so the traffic jams will reduce. For example, in my city the new metro line has made the journey to the city centre much faster for many workers. Moreover, public transport is better for the environment because it produce less pollution per person.
Secondly, building new roads is often only a short-term solution. When a new road is opened, more people start to use their cars, and after few years the road is crowded again. Therefore, spending on roads does not solve the problem in the long run. Moreover, roads take a lot of land which could be used for parks or houses.
On the other hand, roads are still important in some situations. People in rural areas often do not have access to trains or buses, and goods must be transported by trucks. So governments cannot completely stop spending on roads.
In conclusion, I believe that governments should give priority to public transport because it is more efficient and more environmentally friendly. However, they should still maintain existing roads and build new ones in places where there is no other option.
