Improving public transport access

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th September 2018

Current lift outage status SEQ - useful link

Good Morning,

We have now set up a direct link (domain) for lift outages in SEQ.  As usual, no response to our earlier request from the Minister or transport authorities, so we have done it ourselves for the benefit of the community.

This will be very useful for those passengers who need to be aware when lifts are not in service at railway and bus stations.

http://seqliftsout.info/



For those interested this is a filtered display of the TransLink Service Notices RSS feed at https://translink.com.au/service-updates/rss

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

12th September 2018

Lift outages are major disruptions

Good Morning,

We have noted a problem  with the reliability of lifts at railway and bus stations.  Presently on the TransLink service disruption page
( https://translink.com.au/service-updates ) there 7 lift outages listed and one ' No lift access'.  The lift outages are described as ' informative ' when in fact they should be described as  ' major disruptions ' in our view, such is the impact on PWD and others who find stairs and/or steep ramps challenging ( elderly, people with prams, luggage etc.). For a passenger in a wheel chair or using another mobility device a lift outage can mean great inconvenience to their travel.  TransLink and Queensland Rail need to improve the notification of lift outages and take steps to improve the reliability of lifts generally.

We also think TransLink should set a separate web page for lift outages that passengers can quickly check prior to travel or provide a simple option on the service disruption page that selects only lift outages.  The present long list of service disruptions where lift outages are embedded is hard to discern quickly, and an outage could easily be over looked.

The public transport network in SEQ is struggling with a reduced service rail timetable, a failing bus network, and poor connections. 
Even plucking low hanging fruit appears to be beyond the abilities of the bumbling transport authorities these days. 
Leadership starts at the top.  There is a vacuum of leadership and it permeates through the transport bureaucracy like a rotten contagion.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

@ptv_official @DanielAndrewsMP @tonybmorton @MatthewGuyMP @yarratrams @deedwardes can we please be taken seriously and get the tram stop at flinders street fixed or return the busses on route 216/219/220 pic.twitter.com/FIM5KcnIHw

— Caleb Dawson (@cjdawson) September 26, 2018

https://twitter.com/cjdawson/status/1044790095637692417

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane's accessible bus stop rate nears 50 per cent

Upgrades to more than 70 Brisbane bus stops will start in October as Brisbane City Council edges closer to having 50 per cent of its stops accessible to prams and wheelchairs.

There are about 6200 bus stops across the city, with about 4700 identified in 2014 as needing to be upgraded to be more accessible.

The council has completed about 2100 of those upgrades, and in October the upgrades to 74 additional stops across 24 suburbs will start.

The suburbs to receive upgrades include Bulimba, Carindale, Eight Mile Plains, Manly and Sunnybank.

Lord mayor Graham Quirk said $50 million had been spent on the upgrades since 2014-15 and a further $60 million had been allocated in the budget over the next four years for further upgrades.

"The bus stop works include upgrades to boarding points, access paths, waiting areas, signs, tactile ground surface indicators and bus stop seats, and have been prioritised on location, access to community and disability services, patronage and council priorities," he said.

On Tuesday the council's latest access and inclusion plan, A City for Everyone: Draft Inclusive Brisbane Plan, will be presented to the chamber before opening up for public consultation in November.

The new plan builds on the previous plans outlined in the council's Brisbane Access and Inclusion Plan 2012-2017.

The draft plan will be open for consultation from November 8 to February 15, 2019.

[Cazza]

Almost every 2nd stop can be removed from most major arterial routes so that will cut the amount of money and resources needed to be used #justsaying

[ozbob]

7th November 2018 ABC Radio Brisbane Focus: Focus: One size fits all public transport isn't going to cut it.

" We're all living longer and getting fatter. Many of us have mobility issues. But public transport struggles to cater for those who don't fit the "average" mould. "

Here --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/focus7nov18.mp3 MP3 26.4 MB

Interviewees host Emma Griffiths with Geoff Trappett OAM, Dr Tracy Washington and Dr Mark Hickman.

[ozbob]

^ Very interesting and relevant discussion this session.  Well worth listening too!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th November 2018

Focus: One size fits all public transport isn't going to cut it

Good Morning,

Yesterday (7th November 2018) on ABC Radio Brisbane Focus with Emma Griffiths there was an excellent episode titled ' Focus: One size fits all public transport isn't going to cut it. '

Panel participants were Mr Geoff Trappett OAM Inclusion Moves, Dr Tracy Washington Lecturer Science and Engineering Faculty, Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Property and Planning QUT, and Dr Mark Hickman Professor & Chair of Transport Eng
School of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology UQ.

This was an excellent examination and discussion on some of the factors that make it difficult for people to use active and public transport.

It should be compulsory listening for the Minister for Transport, his staff, the Opposition Transport Minister and staff, and all involved with transport in Queensland.

The broadcast of this Focus episode can be accessed here > https://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/focus/focus-on-public-transport/10453704

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1060192119158059009

[LBR2204]

It would be extremely helpful for accessibility information to be available on the journey planner. The only way that people that need disability access can find out what stations are disability accessible is by checking the rail network map which a lot of people don't use the map and use the journey planner instead. NSW does this well. In NSW disability accessibility is shown on the left hand corner of the trip description. Adelaide Metro also does this. I have attached screenshots of the NSW trip planner

[ozbob]

Interview with Steve Austin ABC Radio Brisbane and Geoff Trappett OAM Inclusion Moves concerning accessible bus stops in Brisbane

20th November 2018

Here --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_jt20nov18.mp3 MP3 13.5 MB

[ozbob]

Interview with @SteveAustinABC @abcbrisbane and Geoff Trappett OAM @InclusionMoves concerning accessible bus stops in Brisbane 20 Nov 2018.
Here --> https://t.co/5gt9waRV0j MP3 13.5 MB#qldpol@brisbanecityqld has made some progress, much to do!.
Outer SEQ regions very poor .. pic.twitter.com/wyJ09nXfdi

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) November 20, 2018

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1065024047455424512

[ozbob]

Today is the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) celebrates the achievements and contributions of people with disability -

http://idpwd.com.au

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1069422794830532608

[ozbob]

Rail network's other disability shame https://t.co/S2hZJqxUzo #qldpol #DDAfail

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) January 3, 2019

https://twitter.com/TransportforNSW/status/1069452819848093698

[ozbob]

Queensland Times -->'We're not second class': Advocate calls for fix to platform

PEOPLE with a disability are being treated like second-class citizens as poor public transport in Ipswich continues to restrict their freedom.

An upgrade to East Ipswich station has moved at a glacial pace since it was revealed by Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard at the 2017 election.

Only $50,000 of the $17.6m plan to make the station accessible for people with a disability has been allocated.

It is still in the design stage.

Inclusion Moves founder Geoff Trappett was surprised by the upgrade and said the government's priority should have been to improve the much busier Ipswich station.

"Given the much larger percentage of people that use Ipswich, that would make more sense," he said.

"I'd prefer taxpayers' money to be spent where it's going to have the most impact.

"Lift sizes at Ipswich Central are well below what is acceptable in this day and age."

Mr Trappett said low platforms meant it was more difficult for people with a disability to use Ipswich station.

"The train has got quite a large step down which means you need to use ramps and that causes all kinds of problems," he said.

The disability advocate remains frustrated at the treatment of people by government departments.

"People with a disability are a disempowered socio-economic group, generally," he said.

"Public transport is still an absolute issue. It's one of those baseline issues where if you don't have transport you can't get to your place of employment, it limits where you can live. It's one of those key issues that other issues fall from."

Mr Trappett wants the government to issue a firm timeline on when it will meet disability compliance guidelines at stations and on Queensland's botched New Generation Rollingstock trains.

"Anything less than that will show people with a disability are treated as second-class citizens," he said.

[ozbob]

Rail network's other disability shame https://t.co/S2hZJqxUzo #qldpol #DDAfail

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) January 3, 2019

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1080840624733966336

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily -->'We're doing all we can': State hits back at rail complaints

THE State Government insists it is doing everything possible to make public transport more accessible to people with a disability.

Acting Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Ryan said the government was working to improve freedom of people with mobility issues.

It comes after the QT published the concerns of Inclusion Moves founder Geoff Trappett.

Mr Trappett said platforms at Ipswich train station needed to be raised.

Mr Ryan defended the station upgrade program.

"We believe every rail customer should be able to use their local train station without barriers and that's why Palaszczuk Labor Government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to make public transport more accessible," he said.

"There are 152 rail stations on southeast Queensland's rail network.

"Some of those stations are more than a century old and many more were built before modern disability legislation.

"Modernising stations is an enormous undertaking but we are not shying away from this challenge or putting long-needed upgrades in the too-hard basket like previous governments."

Mr Ryan said Queensland Rail's $300million Station Accessibility Upgrade Program already delivered accessibility improvements.

"Upgrades are planned for stations at East Ipswich, Dakabin, Buranda, Albion, Cannon Hill, Auchenflower, Fairfield and Loganlea," he said.

"Work is happening right across the southeast, typically including installation of lifts, raised platforms to assist boarding, pedestrian overpasses, tactile flooring, ramps, hearing aid loops and accessible toilets.

"When completed, 83 per cent of rail customers will travel to and from accessible stations once these projects are complete."

He said Queensland Rail sought feedback and input on the design of facilities from members of its Accessibility Reference Group which includes representatives from Guide Dogs and Vision Australia.

[Stillwater]

Polliespeak alert:

"When completed, 83 per cent of rail customers will travel to and from accessible stations once these projects are complete."

The 83 per cent figure does not mean that 83 per cent of stations will be DDA compliant, merely that 83 per cent of all rail customers (able bodied and people with a disability) will use an accessible station.  And it does not mean that 83 per cent of people with a disability who are customers of QR will have access to facilities that address their needs.

As for Mr Ryan's comment about 'hundreds of millions of dollars' going towards station upgrades ... as with the NGR trains, provision of facilities for people with a disability is a matter of L-A-W law.  It is not some sort of gold-plated gift from government to the travelling public.  And the fact that a rush is on to provide the facilities is due to government dragging the chain.

And please, no more of these comments saying "it was the previously government's fault".  Obviously Mr Ryan has not grown out of the habit when he was 10, of being pulled up in the school playground for fighting and telling the teacher "it was not me -- the other kid started it".

[ozbob]

Interviews on ABC Radio Brisbane 23rd January 2019 concerning station accessibility and upgrades.

1.  ABC Brisbane Breakfast hosts Loretta Ryan and Craig Zonca.  Interview with Michael Berkman MP Member for Maiwar, some talkback callers and Geoff Trappett OAM.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_mberk23jan19.mp3  MP3 12.9 MB

2.  ABC Brisbane Radio Mornings host Rebecca Levingston with Minister for Transport Mark Bailey.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_mbailey23jan19.mp3 MP3 13.2 MB

[ozbob]

Rail Station Upgrades: The state government will spend more than $800M on providing disabled access to 68 stations across the state. "The largest upgrade of train stations across the network at any one time in its history" - @AndrewConstance - Transport Minister. #SydneyTrains pic.twitter.com/3aS8t8iTQp

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 2, 2019

https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/1101935959476711425

[Stillwater]

The states have a legislative requirement to do these upgrades. And a deadline.  Watch the Queensland Government drag the chain.

[ozbob]

The states have a legislative requirement to do these upgrades. And a deadline.  Watch the Queensland Government drag the chain.

Our Transport Minister has referred to the slow progress in other states as somewhat of a justification for why Queensland will not make DDA deadlines.  Well, perhaps he needs to rethink that ..

[ozbob]

Coroner recommends Vic government introduce mandatory #wheelchair restraints on public buses. Restraint systems are mandatory in taxis and private vehicles in Victoria, but on buses only designated zones and grab rails are provided. #PublicTransport https://t.co/ZhK3R1xSTo

— AFDO (@AfdoOffice) March 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/AfdoOffice/status/1108515187580035072

[ozbob]

"Right now we have trams people can't get on, ramps people can't get up and transport information people can't see or hear."

Victoria needs to invest more to make public transport truly accessible.

Great coverage of the #EmpoweredLives campaign in this week's Leader newspapers. pic.twitter.com/rXfYF23lM3

— VCOSS (@VCOSS) April 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/VCOSS/status/1118323783792594945

[ozbob]

EXCLUSIVE | Australia's most accessible rail network is opening the door to a new standard of wheelchair friendly travel. #SydneyMetro @lachlan_kennedy pic.twitter.com/Sagt8Mh5wh

— 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) May 13, 2019

https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstSyd/status/1127841044647809024

[ozbob]

Our aging wheelchair accessible taxi fleet will be replaced & up to 65 new taxis added to Qld fleet in new 50/50 $21 million program by @AnnastaciaMP Govt in partnership with Taxi industry to halve average age of 6 years down to 3 years 🚕🚕😊👍 @TaxiQLD @BlacknWhiteCabs @13cabs pic.twitter.com/NJc4mMQ1aH

— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) May 26, 2019

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1132797673633751040

[ozbob]

Apologies for the language but never before have I seen a better way to explain that providing direct assistance (the ramp) is always going to be a poor second to INSTEAD removing the structural barrier (the step). #disability #inclusion https://t.co/bflvgfqM1h

— Geoff Trappett OAM (@InclusionMoves) August 7, 2019

[techblitz]

and again...different person but same bus route & direction..
I thought we would have been past this....obviously not. 

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3507997202559653

Catching the bus 66 from Mater Hill to the RBWH in a wheelchair was a joke this afternoon first bus refused to take us as no room even though people were only standing in wheelchair spots . Rang translink and was told if no wheelchairs were in the wheelchair spots they have to take you . Next bus pulled up and told no room until was told driver that translink said had to take us if no wheelchair in the spots . Was grudgingly put on . Wheelchair spots are for wheelchairs and if they are needed drivers need to know this and stop making us wait for next bus

Very Concerning...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1086255021544193&set=p.1086255021544193&type=

Hi Translink
This is my son Lewis. Lewis just got denied entry onto the city bound 66 bus at Mater Hill after a hospital procedure today. Bus rego 488TXL at 13.18pm.

The driver refused us entry and said the bus was too full. It wasn't. There was a lot of room, however he didn't even try to help.

Last week a post of a French bus driver went viral when the driver stopped his bus and allowed a wheelchair user on and kicked all the people who wouldn't move off. Maybe if we lived in France my son could have got home in time.

I'm am shocked disappointed that in Brisbane we are still faced with discrimination towards the disabled community.

[techblitz]

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3524460247580015

Hey Translink. Are you going to respond to the post below regarding being denied access due to being in a wheelchair? I see you respond to trivial matters, but clearly you don't care. It's been many days now. Please explain yourself. Do you really think that this is okay? Vile and cruel if you ask me.

Others also concerned about the missing public adknowledgement by translink.
Original post updated with new responses from others...
https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3507997202559653

[techblitz]

what the heck is going on down there with the logan drivers??

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3564932720199434

I'm currently on Route 550 from Browns Plains to Springwood (2:17pm #113) and I'm really disgusted with this driver In the space of 5 minutes I have seen two people both with physical impairments have to drop to a seating position and crawl off the bus. This driver is not willing to lower the ramp NOR willing to pull to the kerb and lower the bus. Its 2019 for crying out loud. You would think discrimination would not occur on our public bus service.

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3544982465527793

Today my son who is reliant upon a wheelchair caught the 8:43am Logan City Bus route 554 at stop 87 on Stiller Drive at Kuraby. What happened can only be described as discriminatory. My son presented his TRANSLINK access card and companion card. He was travelling with a Support Worker. The driver questioned why the lady was travelling with my son for free and my son replied that she was his support worker and there to help him. To which the driver then replied well if she is here to help then she can open the ramp for you. So he then waited for the support worker to open the ramp. I feel this is wrong & rude of the driver to expect a passenger to do this. Totally unacceptable behaviour from the driver of bus 52 on the route of 554 . Logan City Bus Service get your act together and train your drivers to treat their passengers properly

[#Metro]

Private bus operators should be subject to competitive tendering. Do this, get a mark on your contract until renewal.

Having marks on a contract might be a good penalty scheme because it is non-financial in nature.

[techblitz]

anything @ metro to get some accountability on discrimination/inclusion issues.....

[InclusionMoves]

Absolutely not good enough. I have had to create cards for customers of mine to hand over to drivers to show them their responsibilities when it comes to providing direct assistance (direct assistance because the vehicle is inherently not accessible). This should not need to occur!

what the heck is going on down there with the logan drivers??

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3564932720199434

I'm currently on Route 550 from Browns Plains to Springwood (2:17pm #113) and I'm really disgusted with this driver In the space of 5 minutes I have seen two people both with physical impairments have to drop to a seating position and crawl off the bus. This driver is not willing to lower the ramp NOR willing to pull to the kerb and lower the bus. Its 2019 for crying out loud. You would think discrimination would not occur on our public bus service.

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/3544982465527793

Today my son who is reliant upon a wheelchair caught the 8:43am Logan City Bus route 554 at stop 87 on Stiller Drive at Kuraby. What happened can only be described as discriminatory. My son presented his TRANSLINK access card and companion card. He was travelling with a Support Worker. The driver questioned why the lady was travelling with my son for free and my son replied that she was his support worker and there to help him. To which the driver then replied well if she is here to help then she can open the ramp for you. So he then waited for the support worker to open the ramp. I feel this is wrong & rude of the driver to expect a passenger to do this. Totally unacceptable behaviour from the driver of bus 52 on the route of 554 . Logan City Bus Service get your act together and train your drivers to treat their passengers properly

[#Metro]

Absolutely not good enough. I have had to create cards for customers of mine to hand over to drivers to show them their responsibilities when it comes to providing direct assistance (direct assistance because the vehicle is inherently not accessible). This should not need to occur!

Perhaps bus drivers should be TransLink accredited and the training programs delivered by the operators to their staff should be subject to a test administered by TransLink.

Sit in front of a computer and pass a simulation module on different PWD scenarios like they have with the hazard perception test for car drivers maybe?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1275570383479947264

[Cazza]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/1285749405182619649

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1275570383479947264

How come these buses don't have centre doors?

[Cazza]

It's built for capacity, safety and longer distance journeys, not high passenger turnover.

[verbatim9]

It's built for capacity, safety and longer distance journeys, not high passenger turnover.