Options for provision of services for the transport disadvantaged.

Abstract

The provision of transport for the “transport disadvantaged” has become an increasingly important policy area. The ageing of the Australian population and the need to ensure equal opportunity for all members of the community to accessible public transport services, places demands on both welfare and policy departments. To date transport for the transport disadvantaged has been dealt with as being separate from the mainstream public transport system. The policy debate is how best can improved transport services for the transport disadvantaged be delivered either as part of, or separate from, the mainstream services. A number of different models have been adopted overseas. This paper discusses the implications of these models in the Australian context particularly in relation to the implementation of the 1990 NSW Passenger Transport Act and the Federal Disability Discrimination Act (1992). Evidence is cited from a number of major studies undertaken by the author and colleagues into the costs of providing transport through the current community transport system as well as a cost benefit study of a trial demand responsive bus system in NSW.