The two line graphs compare the percentages of people using public transportation and private cars in five Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide) from 2000 to 2010.
Overall, it is clear that the proportion of people using private cars was consistently higher than that of public transport in all cities throughout the period. However, the use of public transportation in Sydney and Brisbane showed noticeable upward trends, while Brisbane was the only city to experience a significant decline in private car usage.
Looking at public transportation, Brisbane saw the most dramatic increase. In 2000, around 14% of people in Brisbane used public transport, but this figure rose steadily to about 28% by 2010, doubling over the decade. Sydney also experienced growth, with the proportion increasing from approximately 18% to 23%. In contrast, the other cities remained relatively stable: Melbourne hovered around 15% to 18%, Perth stayed close to 9%, and Adelaide showed little change at about 6% throughout the period.
Regarding private car usage, Brisbane was the only city where the proportion decreased significantly, from roughly 45% in 2000 to just under 30% in 2010. Meanwhile, Sydney saw a rise from 20% to over 30%, and Perth’s figure increased gradually from around 65% to more than 70%. Private car use in Melbourne and Adelaide remained high and relatively steady, with both cities recording figures above 70% across the years.
In summary, although private cars continued to dominate as the preferred mode of transport, Brisbane stood out for its increasing reliance on public transport and reduced dependence on cars.