Article: GPS trackers in Queensland University of Technology study show elderly

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

GPS trackers in Queensland University of Technology study show elderly prefer driving

GPS trackers in Queensland University of Technology study show elderly prefer driving

    by: Andrew MacDonald
    From: The Courier-Mail
    October 04, 2012 12:00AM

CENTRALISED public transport systems are turning older Queenslanders off buses and trains, causing them to drive more frequently.

The new Queensland University of Technology research, which involved attaching GPS trackers to 49 people aged between 57 and 93 in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Roma, also revealed subjects were travelling longer distances more often than they had anticipated.

The findings are contained in the Community Livability Guide, developed by QUT, the Department of Communities, Council of the Ageing Queensland and Gold Coast City Council to examine the mobility, safety, accessibility, social support and affordability issues affecting older Queenslanders.

Professor Laurie Buys from the QUT School of Design said a very high level of car dependency, and public transport which did not meet the needs of older travellers, was among the key concerns.

"In Brisbane, both inner-city and suburban groups feel that because public transport generally runs in to the city rather than across it, it's of little use to them when they need to go across town," she said.

"We found that their community was broader than just their immediate neighbourhood and if they have to catch two or more buses to get to their destination, they're far more likely to drive."

Prof Buys said although the research did not examine the safety risks associated with people driving well into old age, there would be a flow-on effect if transport systems did not meet needs.

"It means that if people are going to transition to a non-driving life, we have to make sure that our systems support that, because if we don't they are not going to stop driving until there's a major catastrophe and we don't want that," she said.

The use of GPS trackers in the the study also shed light on the distances older people travel.

"People tend to think they stick around and don't go to a lot of places when in fact they do; so what people said they did and what they did in reality were quite different," she said.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said $88 million would be spent over the next four years to make bus and ferry stops more "comfortable, safer and accessible" to seniors and people with a disability.

Earlier this year, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk unveiled the Seniors Strategy designed to improve the accessibility of services.

[ozbob]

Make public transport free off peak as well, as in other states.  It ain't rocket science --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th October 2012

No surprise here ...

Greetings,

Interesting article in the Couriermail today:

GPS trackers in Queensland University of Technology study show elderly prefer driving

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gps-trackers-in-queensland-university-of-technology-study-show-elderly-prefer-driving/story-e6freoof-1226487667386

States in part the obvious, however it further highlights why seniors need much improved public transport fare options, as for other states.  Queensland lags as usual.

See  Current Senior fares in state capitals  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.msg109942#msg109942  for a national round up.

Queensland is a transport backwater, clearly ....

Will the Government and TransLink continue to spin everything is world class?  LOL

Don't forget to touch off ...

Best wishes

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Interesting interview and talk back on 612 ABC Brisbane radio this morning on this.

Affordability was a key issue, and in fact the interviewee associated with the research was somewhat taken aback that there was no equivalent of the NSW Pensioner Excursion Ticket in Queensland 

Many callers pointed out the free travel per se in SA WA and so forth ..  familytripper raised etc. 

[Gazza]

terviewee associated with the research was somewhat taken aback that there was no equivalent of the NSW Pensioner Excursion Ticket in Queensland

I still don't get why a PET ticket has to be as dirt cheap as $2.50.
That's bad NSW policy which saps money away from other beneficial programs, which is why no other states have it.

I think free offpeak travel has more merit.

[ozbob]

Melbourne does have an effective PET - Senior capping on the myki at $3.60 weekdays ( http://www.myki.com.au/About-myki/Seniors ), but they have free travel weekends/holidays.

The Perth and Adelaide models are best IMHO, free off peak, normal concession fares in peaks.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.msg109942#msg109942

[Gazza]

^Agreed, if you want a good fare structure, I'd pretty much adopt the Perth model for everything, and ignore anything NSW does.

I think its pretty unfair in NSW that a penioner can get an unlimited multi modal ticket for $2.50 but everyone else pays $21 / $10.50.

$2.50, yeah nice for that group.... too bad the rest of the population has to deal with differing fare zones between bus and train and ferry, no short term/single trip multi modal options, multi modal options where the only choice is to cover the whole network (whereas everywhere else you can buy a 1 zone ticket if you're only sticking to the inner suburbs), charging different rates for people based on wether the vehicle has rubber or steel wheels etc etc.
Great system down in NSW 

Senior capping on the myki at $3.60 weekdays

But we have max capping too, the only reason ours can't be kept under $3.60 is because our network is much bigger and the TL network covers the equivalent of what would be V/Line territory down in Vic.

You can't go to Geelong on the $3.60 cap for example.

[somebody]

Great system down in NSW 

And it looks like staying that way too.

[Gazza]

^Going backwards in fact by the sounds of some of the proposals..... you might say they are tearing things ipart.

[ozbob]

V/Line does have some interesting things for Seniors though.  There is a free travel voucher for all Seniors once a year, and during Seniors week free travel on V/Line as well.  Also not often realised by some is that a V/Line ticket allows unlimited travel on the Melbourne Public Transport network (trams, buses and trains) as well.

http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/seniors/seniors_brochure.pdf

Fares --> http://www.vline.com.au/fares-and-tickets/fares/peakoffpeak.html

Nice day out!  Heck I think I need to go to Melbourne for a 5'3" fix .. lol

[somebody]

^Going backwards in fact by the sounds of some of the proposals..... you might say they are tearing things ipart.

Not sure that is fair.  Last few years have seen private buses included in the travelpass/MyMulti scheme, followed by the Light Rail.  These have been steps in the right direction.  Looking forward we are likely to see an electronic ticket system, if not an integrated fare system.  Another step in the right direction, not far enough.

I guess the retrograde step is the cheap fares now given to long distance commuters under MyZone.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane radio Mornings

--> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2012/10/public-transport-for-older-people.html?site=brisbane&program=612_morning

Public Transport for Older People

04 October 2012 , 11:53 AM by Amanda Dell

Public transport isn't just for commuters...elderly Australian's use it too...or they would if it suited their needs. According to research by Queensland University of Technology older people in South East Queensland are highly dependent on their cars, because for many journeys there is no other option. Professor David Henscher is the Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney. Nicole first asked him if the focus of our public transport is too narrow - are we just looking after commuters?

Pity the talk back calls didn't make the cut, but good calls pointing out the various pensioner initiatives in WA, SA and the like, and some of the local mobility issues.

Interesting interview and talk back on 612 ABC Brisbane radio this morning on this.

Affordability was a key issue, and in fact the interviewee associated with the research was somewhat taken aback that there was no equivalent of the NSW Pensioner Excursion Ticket in Queensland 

Many callers pointed out the free travel per se in SA WA and so forth ..  familytripper raised etc.

[Gazza]

There is a free travel voucher for all Seniors once a year, and during Seniors week free travel on V/Line as well.

I heard about the free travel voucher previously, sounds like a good move because at least it gives free travel for at least one special trip during the year (Key medical appointment, family visit etc)

Free travel during "Seniors Week" sounds like a gimmick though, if there ever was one.
Would be pure luck if you could take advantage of it.

Nicole first asked him if the focus of our public transport is too narrow - are we just looking after commuters?

Not at all, what about all the welfare routes?

What matters though is agreeing on how much of the resources should go towards social needs, and how many should go towards frequent routes that carry the bulk of patronage and allow you to escape congestion.