Improving Accessibility

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Improving Accessibility for Transport
Disadvantaged Residents of Bass Coast Shire
John T Sanderson Transport Project
Facilitator Bass Coast Transport Connections
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Bass Coast Shire . . .
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Bass Coast demographics . . .

• Seasonal variation
• resident population 24,000
• summer population 75,000

• Three major centre
• Cowes
• Wonthaggi
• Inverloch

• Limited industries
• tourism/hospitality
• farming

• Diverse age groups
• over 60s 28
• under 18 19

1.5 million visitors each year
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Youth Ambassadors Forum transport review . . .
The Youth Ambassadors Forum transport review
represented the response of young people between
the ages of 14 and 17 from the three secondary
schools across the Shire.
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Youth Ambassadors Forum survey response . . .

• Young people indicated a desire for daily
  services during school holidays and weekends
  during term time.

• During term
• 3 Every day
• 3 Some days
• 61 Weekends
• 28 Friday night
• 5 After school

• During holidays
• 57 Every day
• 28 Some days
• 15 Weekends

• Asked about the timing of the service, 70 of
  young people wanted the bus both during the day
  and at night time, the other 30 would accept a
  day time service.

• 66 suggested they would be willing to pay
  between 3 and 5 to use the new service.

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Youth Ambassadors Forum comments . . .
It would be great to have a bus because parents
are always taking us everywhere. It would give
us a bit of independence and learn how to use
public transport I think this would be a great
idea for younger people because they cant drive
cars so they will have something else to rely on
if they just want to spend the day at some ones
house or whatever
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Bass Coast Summer Service 2004-05 . . .

• The 2004-05 service between Inverloch and Cowes
  operated in both directions in the morning and
  afternoon over an eight week period.
• The service operated on three weekdays, Saturday
  and Sunday.

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Bass Coast Summer Service 2005-06 . . .

• The 2005-06 service between Inverloch and Cowes
  operated in both directions in the morning and
  afternoon over the six week school holiday
  period.
• The service operated on each weekday and Saturday.

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Bass Coast Summer Service comparative statistics
. . .
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Bass Coast Summer Service usage 2005-06 . . .
Passengers per day 2005-06
Passengers by category 2005-06
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Bass Coast Summer Service teenagers comments . . .
This service is good because our parents work,
means that we can go out and go shopping without
them having to take us. Think the bus service
is really good, will help out a large majority of
the community, not just teens. Would be good if
it ran every holiday not just summer. I am not
yet 18 and I get so sick of asking my parents for
lifts to San Remo, the Island, even Wonthaggi so
thanks a lot. I think its a great idea,
some times mums and dads cant drive us kids
everywhere and V/Line doesnt come that
often. The bus service means I dont have to
hitch to get around, which is often unreliable.
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Bass Coast Summer Service pensioners comments . .
.
As I now have no car a regular service all year
at least one or two times a week would be
fantastic. This service is essential now I can
no longer drive, following loss of sight in a
stroke. Id like to see a regular daily
service between Wonthaggi and Cape Paterson. I
would use this service more than once per
week. "Any bus services in the area are a bonus
to people no longer can drive or are home bound
without any transport at all. I would use it
regularly to visit my sister and friends and
relations, also to go shopping in Wonthaggi, also
to take friends who visit and stay with me just
to see the various palaces at which the bus
calls.
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Bass Coast Summer Service demonstration projects
. . .
Funding is being sought to implement the services
as a permanent feature of public transport in
Bass Coast Shire.
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Public transport objectives/ public transport
well-being. . .
Bass Coast Transport Connections objectives for
bus services is that

• weekday bus services should provide residents
  with a choice of days and times to travel
• services should preferably operate on each
  weekday but at a minimum three days per week
• summer services should increase to accommodate
  the number of holidaymakers visiting the area.

Bass Coast Transport Connections objectives for
taxi services is that

• services should be available all day, every day
  for all residents in all communities across the
  shire at reasonable cost

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Bus service requirements . . .
Public transport services required to allow those
without a car to travel to shops and to
appointments include

• a daily service between Cowes and Wonthaggi,
  rather than the current weekly service
• a service three days per week between Cape
  Paterson and Wonthaggi and Corinella and
  Wonthaggi
• a Wonthaggi town service three days per week.

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Wonthaggi public transport interchange . . .

• One of the major objectives of Transport
  Connections projects is to increase the
  efficiency of local transport by the
  co-ordination of existing services.
• Co-ordination in Wonthaggi would be significantly
  improved if all transport terminated at the same
  location rather than a several points around the
  town centre.

Cowes interchange
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Transport policy in the future . . .
Bass Coast Transport Connections has highlighted
the need for a revised approach to transport
policy by the State Government

• taking a whole of government approach to
  transport policy and issues
• integrating all transport modes within a single
  agency with responsibility for co-ordinating and
  funding transport throughout the state
• recognising that community transport is a
  legitimate mode within the transport mix
• recognising the different needs of metropolitan
  and regional transport with commensurate
  regulatory frameworks.

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Regional transport policy in the future . . .
A number of specific issues need addressing at
the regional level, including

• developing guidelines for the provision of
  transport in regional areas
• implementing regional transport committees to
  integrate and co-ordinate transport services
• involving the community in decisions about local
  transport.

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Resources . . .
Notwithstanding all these policy issues, the
Government needs to provide significant
additional financial resources to ensure an
acceptable level of public transport service in
regional Victoria.
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