from YAPRap November 2005
by Vanessa Ford, YAPRap feature writer
Discounted taxi vouchers, community transport just for young people, a Summer Bus or a transport information card - could these be possible solutions to the problems of inaccessible transport for young people in your area?
As most youth workers are aware, lack of access to public transport is one of the issues consistently raised by young people in NSW today. This is particularly so in rural and regional areas. Young people are one of the highest users of public transport and accessing public transport often represents the only way they can travel independently. Without adequate public transport they are often forced to use other more unsafe methods of transport, such as hitchhiking or drink driving.
Even for service providers young people's lack of public transport is a significant issue. How many times have you put on an event where young people have said they would come along if only you provided transport?
Whether the transport problems in your local area are unsafe trains, buses that stop at 7pm or public transport that just doesn't exist, the solutions are often not about building railway tracks or putting on more buses. As we know, more often than not the best solutions are local solutions that are developed in consultation with those affected, young people.
As advocates for young people, as well as service providers who have an interest in making sure young people can access services, youth workers can have a role in helping to address young people's transport problems. In regional and rural areas across NSW, young people, youth workers and transport workers are getting together to come up with creative solutions to address the problems of inadequate public transport. Here are just a few examples.
Bega Valley Shire Summer Bus
In the Bega Valley Shire, on the NSW far South Coast, towns such as Bega, Eden and Merimbula are a significant distance from each other. The last buses are at around 7pm.
In 2003, Beau Geekie*, a member of the Bega Valley Shire Youth Council, along with other Youth Council members, identified the desperate need for public transport for young people at night. Supported by Bega Valley Shire Council, the Youth Council approached Deane's Buslines, the local bus company, to run a night bus during the summer school holidays. The company agreed and they trialled the bus on weekend nights from 7pm to midnight, as well as New Year's Eve, during the 2003/04 holidays.
The most young people pay to use the bus is $2 to travel up to 95kms. (On the regular bus the standard concession bus fare for this distance is $4.70.) The bus allows young people to go out at night to local clubs, pubs, as well as any youth specific events being organized, and travel home safely.
In 2004 the Youth Council successfully applied for funding from the Ministry of Transport to run the Summer Bus again. In the 2004/05 holidays, approximately 900 people used the bus, including a significant majority of young people. And they have evidence to show the bus is a success. Having analysed road accident statistics for the period, particularly New Year's Eve, Beau said that the number of road accidents and related trauma was reduced when the Summer Bus was in operation. As anyone who has applied for funding knows, having such evidence is really valuable in attracting interest.
The Summer Bus has again been funded by the Ministry of Transport for 2005/06 and in response to young people's suggestions, they are looking to extend the bus to 4am. Given the success of the bus over the last few years, a plan to continue its operation is being developed. This includes seeking ongoing support from a number of government agencies in the local area.
In the Bega Valley Shire a transport information card was also developed to let young people know about the transport options available in the Shire. The Youth Council found that young people were often not aware of bus routes or details of other transport services. 3000 wallet size cards were produced and distributed to young people in local high schools. The cards feature contact details for transport providers, as well as information on health services for young people.
*Beau appears on the front cover of the 2005/06 Bega White Pages in recognition of his work.
Dubbo Taxi Voucher Trial
Out west in Dubbo, public transport is also inaccessible for many young people. On Saturdays buses stop at 3pm, on Sundays there are no buses and taxis are unaffordable for many young people. After consulting with youth workers and young people, it was identified by the Regional Transport Coordinator that a flexible transport solution was needed. Putting on extra buses was not a viable solution as it is a relatively small group of young people who need transport, and they need to be able to travel at times that suit them. It was therefore decided to trial a taxi voucher scheme. In developing the scheme the average cost of taxi trips was considered, as well as the most common destinations for journeys by young people. The advice and support of the local taxi company, as well as Dubbo City Council, was important in developing the scheme.
Under the scheme young people aged 12-17 years are eligible to purchase taxi vouchers, from Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre, for $5 each, which they can use towards a maximum fare of $15. They can use these vouchers within the 60km speed limit zone of Dubbo to get to where they need to go. Organisers are now negotiating with local youth service providers to make the vouchers available to a broader range of young people.
The project has been running since early October 2005 and will operate until April 2006 when its success will be evaluated and opportunities to continue considered.
Mid North Coast
On the mid north coast of NSW, they are trying a few different approaches to improving public transport for young people. In Taree Ministry of Transport funding has been provided to a community transport organisation to provide community transport on request to youth services. The funding is designed to subsidise transport services for young people. This will allow youth services to use community transport during school holidays or for events at a much reduced rate.
In the Coffs Harbour area, the only buses for young people are to and from school. In response to young people's and youth workers' requests a bus service has been introduced on Saturdays. This has also been funded by the Ministry of Transport. Leaving on Saturday mornings, the bus travels through three communities in the Orara Valley and drops people off in Coffs Harbour. This gives young people a chance to hang out in town for the morning. The bus then picks people up from Coffs on Saturday afternoons, traveling back through the Valley. For $3 young people can travel approximately 35kms. The service will be trialled for a year, evaluated and options considered.
Got some ideas for transport for young people in your area?
These projects give you some idea of the simple solutions being trialled in NSW that could also improve young people's access to public transport in your local community. While they are have not all been initiated by youth workers or young people, they have involved youth workers and young people in the planning and implementation. Some have also specifically assisted young people to utilise youth services and events.
So, if you are in a rural or regional area and have identified a transport need for young people locally, why not contact your Regional Transport Coordinator. They can give you information on whether services already exist that might address the identified gaps or they can help with developing a funding proposal to trial a new scheme.
In July 2004 the NSW Ministry of Transport appointed 11 Regional Transport Coordinators across NSW, from Gosford on the Central Coast to Broken Hill in the Far West. One of their roles is to get local communities involved in coming up with solutions to address problems in accessing public transport, for all community members. Not only can you get assistance from the Transport Coordinator, but the Ministry of Transport has $100,000 (Regional Transport Coordination Network Funding) available to trial projects in each of the 11 areas. The Regional Transport Coordination Network Funding is designed to provide communities with the opportunity to trial different schemes that address transport problems, with a view to creating long-term sustainable solutions. Schemes can range from small local projects to larger scale regional projects. The good news is that a range of organisations can apply for funding, including community based organisations and local councils.
Transport Coordinators also convene transport working groups involving key stakeholders, such as community workers and representatives of local transport providers, in a number of regions across NSW. If you are not already involved in your local working group, why not ask your Transport Coordinator for details.
more info
-
more inspiration on youth transport projects
Dusseldorp Skills Forum
www.dsf.org.au/transport -
rural/regional
Regional Transport Coordination Network and funding - includes contact details for the Regional Transport Coordinator in your area & regional contacts for the projects featured in this article
NSW Ministry of Transport
02 9268 2800
www.transport.nsw.gov.au/countryresource -
western Sydney
Transport Development Workers
Western Sydney Community Forum
02 9637 6190
wscf@wscf.org.au
