SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ON THE STATE TRANSPORT PLAN

Transcription

1 COUNCIL ON THE AGEING, SOUTH AUSTRALIA SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ON THE STATE TRANSPORT PLAN Prepared by COTA SA 16 Hutt Street Adelaide SA 5000 (08) Prepared by: Jessie Byrne Policy Manager (08) January 2014

2 COTA SA: 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 Government of South Australia 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. In developing this submission, COTA SA provided a draft on its website and directly ed 3,000 members and stakeholders for their comment. 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. It also welcomes the recent removal of 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. The vital impact of transport for older people Transport is a key determinant in supporting the civic, economic 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 years from 60 to 100, after all, span 40 years. In that time, the needs and interests of older people may change radically. The Baby Boomer generation is now joining previous generations in this older category. Their expectations and economic contribution often 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 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. 2

3 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 generally greater for 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 their journey. 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. While not a matter strictly addressed in the plan, the quality and standards of transport service delivery also present difficulties. Drivers and other transport workers cannot always be relied upon to provide sound information on routes and timetables. Stops may be situated at a distance from retirement villages and medical facilities and may be without adequate shelter and security lighting. The reliability of public transport, and in particular buses, is a source of frustration. For older people or those living with a disability there is fear of injury when buses are started before the passenger has been seated. There is also the expectation that passengers will stand to alight before the bus has stopped, which adds to the possibility of injury. Older people make up a larger percentage of the population in most regional areas where there are particular barriers to accessing transport and services. Regional and country transport can be expensive and is not readily available in isolated areas, nor are public transport concessions. Transport cannot be divorced from the broader delivery of services in regional areas. Local transport may be available, but local services may not exist. This makes medium to longdistance 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. COTA members have expressed concern, for example, about the lack of services in the southeast of the state and, in other areas such as north of Adelaide, the expense incurred for services. The Patient Assistance Transport Scheme continues to be underfunded, with no increases to meet CPI rises let alone increase in demand. COTA SA feedback suggests that a scheme providing a daily bus to Adelaide to allow hospital access from the Copper Coast could be replicated in other 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 3

4 in society and in access to services. Dedicated access vehicles and services go only some way to address this need. Steep steps to enter and alight from buses are inhibitive for some passengers. 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 increased cost of living 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 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. Community transport is welcome in many areas, including transport provided by local councils, but services are uneven across the state. Passengers may have to travel circuitous and time consuming routes to travel short distances in their local area. Feeder services to public transport do not always exist and, where they do, are often infrequent, such as in the Adelaide Hills. For all those driving their own cars or reliant on buses, road congestion is a continuing frustration resulting in time delays, stress and added costs to the economy. 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. South Australia is the second to most rapidly ageing state or territory in Australia, ranking only after Tasmania. The 2011 census showed that 22.3% of South Australia s population of 1.6 million people were 60 plus years of age. By 2031, it is projected that 26.5% of our population will be aged over 65 years. For this reason among others, the needs of older people 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. 4

5 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 As proposed, the State Transport Plan predominantly focuses on infrastructure and macrosystems, with only a small component focussing on service and service delivery. The best infrastructure is no more than wasted capital if there are barriers to its use by the community. The plan appears to say little about improving accessibility to buses, trams and trains. The regional elements of the plan are built around economic imperatives. These are critical, but the plan fails to address the social and civic objectives of the transport system. In many locations, such as some areas of the west coast, there is no public transport and limited and expensive access to any services that cannot be reached by private vehicle a situation not adequately addressed by the current draft plan. COTA SA therefore recommends that the plan be further developed and that the state government: 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 and councils 5

6 consider public transport mini bus options that operate within local and regional areas and 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 and deliver a targeted plan for regional South Australians in addition to the economic infrastructure within the current plan undertake a more comprehensive review of health related transport than its current Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) review or, at the very least, revise the current PATS review to provide sound evidence of demand and without limiting the outcome to current budget constraints consider other means of transport assistance to Adelaide based medical services, such as a daily bus to and from regions better enforce service standards for public buses, trains and trams, particularly in relation to: o timeliness o frequency of services o customer service, such as standards around starting o physical access into vehicles, in particular buses 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 so that it reflects the communications preferences of the older cohort, which may prefer 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. Again, COTA SA thanks the state government for the opportunity to make a submission on the draft plan and is happy to discuss any matter further if you require. 6

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