Building a Public Transport Culture for Australia Bus

Building a Public Transport Culture for Australia Bus Industry Confederation Michael Apps July 2006

BIC - National Voice of Bus and Coach Industry in Australia - Operators Chassis Manufacturers Body Builders Ancillary Suppliers

BIC’s Aim is to Influence: - Policy Debate and Development - The Electorate - The Political Process - Federally - State

Australia’s Land Transport Systems are Unsustainable

Income The Facts $12 billion approx. collected in Excise and Registration Fees Costs $ Congestion $ Road Accidents $ Air Pollution $ Noise Emissions $ Road Damage $ Climate Change $31 billion - A shortfall of $19 billion per annum

The Solution - Funding alone is not an answer - More roads alone is not an answer - We need to develop and build a Public Transport Culture for Australia

The Solution A national framework and policies developed in association with States and Local Government to deliver the Public Transport system required for Australia in the future.

The Solution Change the behaviour of the Community by providing Real Travel Options from the Car but not excluding the Car

What is a Public Transport Culture and How Do We Deliver it?

BIC Policy Statement - Access - awareness/information - frequency/reliability - convenience - security - Equity - Safety - Environment - Efficiency Not just Urban but Regional

Public Transport Summit - What is the National Interest in Public Transport?

What is Required - Identify and recognise the National Interest in Public Transport. - Develop and agree a package of Policies that delivers access, equity, safety, environment & efficiency to provide real Travel Choices to the Community. - Develop a National framework within which Public Transport is operated and co-ordinated by the Federal and State Governments.

Rural & Regional Young People and Transport Improving Access to Transport for young people in Rural and Regional Australia NATIONAL YOUTH AFFAIRS RESEARCH SCHEME January 2005 Published by Dept of Family and Community Services

Aim of the Project was to; - “Investigate transport and travel for rural and regional young people, to examine successes and challenges in improving the provision of transport services to young people and to focus on viable solutions to their transport needs”

The Study Identified that; - There is poor coverage of research literature related to the travel needs of young people in Australia and even less concerning those living in rural and regional areas. - Transport research in rural and regional Australia tends to focus on freight and long distance travel.

SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND ISOLATION AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO MOBILITY CHOICES HAVE HAD LITTLE ATTENTION

What is Social Exclusion? - Social exclusion is defined as a short-hand term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor housing, high crime, bad health, family breakdown and lack of adequate transport – BUT - It is not restricted to regional and remote areas only.

Inadequate Transport is said to contribute to Social Exclusion because - It stops people from participating in work, learning, health care, food shopping, recreation and other community activities.

This is Compounded in rural and regional Australia because of - Low population density Small total populations Predominantly agriculture Non built up areas are predominant Areas are geographically isolated and remote

Further the - Lack of viable public transport options - Poor information about facilities and services available - Lack of Co-ordination of existing transport services - And reducing and centralising services increases the requirement for travel all of which impact on access and social exclusions/isolation

The Way Forward - It is clear that lack of transport options significantly limit educational employment and social opportunities

- It is clear that a significant proportion of the young population of rural and regional Australia are at risk of being marginalised in their access to activities and opportunities which are more freely available to urban communities

- There is also evidence that this issue is getting worse. Rationalisation and centralisation of rural services and facilities to major regional centres increases the marginalisation of young people in the community - WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Transport Options To Promote - Expansion and enhancement of service levels for conventional Public Transport Services – particularly nights, weekends and holidays - Schemes to assist in training and ownership of motor vehicles - Ridesharing schemes - Cycling and walk access improvement schemes

Transport Options To Promote (continued…) - Improved information availability about transport to improve access - Transport subsidy schemes which target reductions in travel use costs to specific groups - Outreach schemes which seek to bring services to remoter communities

Challenges to Government - Sustainable Funding – none of the above transport improvements are feasible without financial resources - Targeting needs effectively – Effective transport improvement options require careful targeting of schemes to local needs – Local Government is the best agent to manage this task

Challenges to Government (continued…) - National Research Group to address the wider knowledge and skills gaps that exist that covers a wider group than just young people. - Better Co-ordination of Commonwealth and State Government programs and initiatives to fully utilise resources and deliver real transport choices

Improving Public Transport in Warrnambool

Aim of the study • To explore travel patterns of “transport disadvantaged” groups and identify priorities to improve their accessibility, focusing on the role of public transport • A first step towards understanding the links between improved public transport, social exclusion and personal wellbeing

Warrnambool route services

V/Line routes • Total 450, 000 service kms and carry 50, 000 passengers • (Plus the train to Melbourne)

School services • Various school bus services: 600, 000 kms/year and nearly one million boardings • School travel accounts for 85% of bus trips, exc. V/Line

Smaller town services • Portland: about 1. 2 kms/p. c. • Port Fairy: no service • Large towns lacking connecting services to Warrnambool: Mortlake • Hawkesdale corridor is also short of PT connections to Warrnambool

Community transport • Plays a very important role • Numerous providers (e. g. Council, Lyndoch, Karingal, Mortlake Community Bus, Terang and Mortlake Health Service) • Some problems in service provision, e. g. - limited operating times - narrow eligibility criteria - low vehicle utilisation - lack of integration with route and school services

Survey findings: route bus users • Tend to see they have no alternative • Often travel alone and the trip aids social inclusion • Pensioners and students account for 4/5 tickets sold • Concerns about limited weekend services, short span of weekday service hours, the two-hour ticket & lack of service information

Young people • Can be well off or very disadvantaged in transport terms • High car use for school trips • Non-urban locations and low household income are a very restrictive combination • Particular problems include access to alternative educational programs, work and entertainment

Deakin residential students • Deakin seeking growth in international and regional students • Very car dependent, esp. outside bus hours • Car ride sharing common • Female international students less likely to ask for lifts • “Pub night” is an opportunity for a PT service

Seniors • Significant part of the population • Strongly car dependent • Some have a low level of knowledge of PT services • Lack of preparation for non-driving years • Those without car availability are at greater risk of social exclusion • Community transport assists

People with a disability • Have typically not been part of the car culture and have developed alternative mobility options - e. g. PT, community transport, walking, friends, taxis, etc - Strong support services available • Those living outside urban Warrnambool face greater accessibility difficulties

People on low incomes • • • Car ride sharing common More reliant on PT lack of PT for work trips an issue Those living away from route services face greater problems • Young single mothers are at risk of social exclusion • Two hour tickets an issue, as is paying for student yearly passes in one payment

Major employers • Not a major PT market - lack of peak hour service - Shift times often not aligned with PT services • Some opportunities to develop these markets • Partnerships needed

Indigenous community • Has a well functioning community bus service • Tend to feel uncomfortable using PT • Car use/safety is an issue among some young • Familiarisation programs on PT should be tried

Other issues • Rurally isolated: lack of alternatives mean that all transport disadvantaged groups are likely to face problems • Tourism: not well integrated into the route bus service

Key issue: accessibility planning • Personal transport is about meeting accessibility needs and fostering social inclusion • Service delivery is typically structured around modes rather than around meeting people’s needs for access • PT/school bus/community transport services operate in isolation, rather than as a single service delivery system • Someone needs to “own” accessibility!!!

Accessibility planning (cont. ) • Regional Accessibility Planning Councils should be established to undertake needs assessments and propose improvements • Regional transport resources should be managed in a more co-ordinated way to meet such needs (e. g. making better use of school and community buses)

Major recommendations 1. 2. 3. 4. PT service enhancements Marketing of PT services Regulatory reform State level transport planning

(1) PT service enhancements • • • Increase route bus service frequency/span Extend service to growth suburbs Provide “pub night” service for Deakin students Trial route/tourist service in Port Fairy Introduce twice weekly services plus Sat. Night from Mortlake and Hawkesdale to Warrnambool • Trial charter bus services to special events at Deakin • USE IT OR LOSE IT!!!

(2) Marketing • Implement an expanded program in W’bool • Provide enhanced customer service training to drivers (generally very highly regarded) • Provide awareness programs for seniors • Run familiarisation program with Indigenous Community • Extend transport concessions to international students and careers

(2) Marketing (cont) • Allow time-purchase of student yearly passes • Change 2 hour route service ticket to 3 hours • Include marketing incentives in route bus contracts

(3) Regulatory reform • Provide greater flexibility in use of school buses by non-students • Provide DDA exemption from school buses providing route services in areas without such service

(4) System planning • Encourage school/tertiary communities to develop Sustainable Travel Plans • Establish Regional Accessibility Planning Councils to identify and prioritise accessibility needs • Focus all State/Federal transport related funding (e. g. HACC) through DOI

What now? - Promote the report to the regional community, Local and State Government - Seek State and Local Government support to implement its recommendations in this region as a demonstration of what might be possible - Then encourage public transport use!