Closing the Transport Gap
The Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW (CPSA) recently launched Closing the Transport Gap. More and more, we’re finding too many people that are unable to access and use the type of services that meet their needs.
When we look at public buses, there’s been an increasing focus on commuter services with bus routes redirected along major roads and fewer bus stops.
This is making transport increasingly difficult for older people and people with disability to use. We’ve called for a ‘social transit’ agenda which would aim to deliver a minimum level of service which would help most people use public transport at any time.
Rural and regional areas suffer from having very few services. We spoke with one woman in the Illawarra for whom a 14 kilometre journey to her social group takes three hours, with two hours waiting between connections.
If she was able to walk the distance, a steady pace would get her there in the same time.
Rural and regional areas also need more CountryLink services. Bringing trains and railmotors back instead of the coaches used in many regions would also improve accessibility, safety and better service delivery.
Introducing demand responsive transport services and increasing funding for Community Transport would also help those who can’t use traditional public transport services get around more freely.
People should be able to get to the services they need when and as often as required.
If ever older people feel discriminated against, it’s when they must sit for their driver test. The test has no proven benefit and there’s no evidence that transport safety has improved for both older people and the wider community since its introduction.
Yet the NSW Government refuses to budge. International experience suggests it could also be doing more harm by seeing good older drivers giving up their licence and reducing their ability to keep active.
It’s clear that we need greater investment in our transport services. But we must ensure that that investment delivers services that are available to everyone, bridging the transport gap that so many unnecessarily face.
To read Closing the Transport Gap, click here.
Antoine Mangion is Policy/Research Officer at the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association of NSW
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Community transport is so important – especially in regional areas where access to public transport is poor. Well done to the CPSA for such an excellent submission.
I am in whole hearted agreement. Where I live, in the Illawarra, the main issue is simple integration. Co-ordinating the buses to meet and/or wait for the train so that the buses could distribute to local areas. Basic public transport principles !
They put new traffic lights in to help cars and moved the bus stop further away up the hill. I was told “it is still in walking distance of the station” trouble is the bus departs just as the train gets into the station ! and it takes at least 5 minutes ot walk to the bus stop !!
I have attempted to speak with the so called “integrated transport committee” but they are to busy meeting with the RTA deciding where the new roads are going.
I am still not sure who coordinated public transport in this state I think it is Transport NSW but try and find someone to speak to in there is just Yes Minister stuff. Let’s all not vote for either of the big parties they are in the hands of the road lobby. But most importantly “tell them that you are not going to vote for them” they may do something about it !