COTA SA: DRAFT SUBMISSION ON THE SA TRANSPORT PLAN

Transcription

1 28 November 2013 COTA SA: DRAFT SUBMISSION ON THE SA TRANSPORT PLAN The Council on the Ageing SA (COTA SA) is pleased to have the opportunity to provide this brief submission to the State Government s call for submissions on the State Transport Plan. COTA SA represents the interests of all older South Australians. We advocate for the rights and wellbeing of those aged 50 years and over, drawing on ongoing consultation through a variety of mechanisms, including through the 200 networking clubs we support and via our 17,000 members. COTA SA welcomes the integrated approach the South Australian government has taken to producing this plan bringing together land use planning, transport and economic development. The vital impact of transport for older people Transport is a key determinant in supporting the civic and community participation of older South Australians. It can reduce isolation, support older people to access the health, financial, consumer and other services they need, and help people maintain their relationships with family and friends. Transport also helps older citizens to continue to contribute to the economic life of the community. Older South Australians are not a homogenous group. The Baby Boomer generation is now joining previous generations in this older category. Their expectations and economic contribution radically differ from those of their parents. For example, their expectations of services, recognition of their rights, and of self determination are generally higher. They are more likely to work longer with flexibility and part time work an expectation and so their transport needs may be around an economically active but semi retired lifestyle. Many in this group are time poor wearing a variety of hats encompassing work, volunteering and community involvement, and grandparenting duties where speedy travel from one site to another is vital. Research shows that this pattern of longer work and multiple roles is likely to extend well into people s seventies. While in many cases this group

2 has greater access to or relies more heavily on private transport than those in the older category, many continue to use public transport to travel to and from work. Contrast this with those in the older age group, who may no longer be driving, or who have limited their driving to local areas or to daytime journeys. Reliance on public transport is often greater in this group. A higher percentage of travel is in the local area to access local services and to meet with local friends and community groups. People in this older group are more likely to rely on community transport or transportation by friends and family than Baby Boomers. Unreliable public transport can cause many in this older group significant stress, especially where they rely on public transport for medical appointments. Insecurity surrounding the safety of public transport is higher in this group, not only during the journey, but before and after it as they are making their way home. The distance to public transport stops and the lack of integrated services across public transport modes has a particular impact on this group. Where no suitable transport option exists, people in this age category may experience severe social isolation, with negative health and mental health outcomes. Older people in regional areas are facing particular barriers to accessing the services they need due to limited transport options. Here the issue may not be the absence of local transport, although this is frequently the case, but the absence of services at the local level which makes medium to long distance travel a necessity. This is increasingly the case for medical services, such as specialist treatment or hospital treatment, and affects families and carers as well as the individuals involved. It is worth noting there is a higher percentage of the older cohort of people living within regional areas. For older people with a disability indeed all those living with a disability access to both public and private transport options continues to be a significant barrier to full participation in society and in access to services. Dedicated access vehicles and services go only some way to address this need. Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have similar needs to older people generally. However, language issues may result in a lack of confidence in accessing the public transport system or a lack of knowledge about community transport options. All groups, but particularly those on pensions, are subject to increase cost ofliving pressures, of which transport is one factor. Running a car is prohibitive for many in the older age bracket, including but not limited to pensioners. The cost of taxis as an alternative means of transport is also high, compounded by 2

3 uneven service within the industry in terms of reliability, knowledge of destinations, and a service culture that understands the needs of older people. An extension of free public transport services for older people ameliorates some of the cost pressures associated with transport. The Transport Plan and older South Australians COTA SA holds that a sound, integrated transport system is vital for the economic and social wellbeing of the community. For older people, it is an important contributor to their health, social integration, and participation. As such, their needs should be a central consideration in how the transport system is designed, constructed and managed. COTA SA argues that a transport system will best meet the needs of older people, whether Baby Boomers or older, whether in metropolitan areas or in regions, when it is underpinned by triple A principles: accessibility affordability appropriateness. The South Australian Transport Plan addresses these principles in part. On this basis, COTA SA supports many of the plan s initiatives, such as: continued improvements to the current public transport network expanding public transport options, such as the renewal of the tram network the introduction of more super stops to increase accessibility and integration within the public transport system the expansion of cycling and walking paths especially where these are supported by suitable structures such as lighting and well maintained surfaces streamlining traffic flows in metropolitan areas safety and other upgrades to regional roads. Improving transport for all This said, the transport plan could be strengthened through using a triple A lens, ie through greater focus on affordability, accessibility and appropriateness. As proposed, the plan predominantly focuses on infrastructure and macrosystems, with only a small component focussing on service and service 3

4 delivery. The best infrastructure is no more than wasted capital if there are barriers to its use by the community. COTA SA therefore recommends that the plan be further developed and that the state government: remove the age discriminatory requirement for all drivers aged 70 and over to have an annual health assessment to renew their driver s licenses, especially in the light of lengthening working lives and the new lifestyle patterns of Baby Boomers increase the park and ride facilities across the state, ensuring sound security arrangements and no extra cost impost on customers extend free public transport for older South Australians to all times including weekday peak periods to maximise the mobility and social integration of older South Australians without restraint and, significantly, to recognise and support the extended working lives and multiple roles of the Baby Boomer generation work more closely with local government, the Australian government s Home and Community Care program and other providers to ensure that community transport options are better coordinated with other transport options and avoid gaps in the system consider expansion of community passenger networks, in consultation with local communities consider public transport mini bus options that operate within local areas or link local areas to major transport routes and other public transport services undertake more detailed research and consultation into the general transport needs of older people in regional areas undertake a more comprehensive review of health related transport than its current Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) review or, at the very least, revise its PATS review to provide sound evidence of demand and without limiting the outcome to current budget constraints 4

5 better enforce service standards for public buses, trains and trams, particularly in relation to: timeliness frequency of services customer service in relation to customer service, mandate training for public transport employees and the taxi industry on serving older people, those with living with a disability and those from CALD backgrounds review its public transport complaints and suggestions mechanism so that older people are fully informed of their rights and, importantly, so that it reflects the communications preferences of the older cohort, which prefers phone or person to person contact to social media review the security features of public transport to include not just the journey itself but those measures that can be put in place for accessing and departing from buses, trains and trams, such as appropriate lighting and emergency phones ensure that all public transport access points have suitable and sufficient seating and shelter and timetables that can be viewed by those unable to read very fine print ensure that all public transport is accessible to those living with a disability. 5