Why, you may ask, is transport such a hot topic! The recent Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne from 15-26 March this year has got the media and general public debating this important issue again. The generous offer of free public transport to the Games on the day/s your Games tickets were valid, sparked debate about public transport, its’ cost to consumers, and other issues like reliability and location of services. The Age newspaper discussed the idea of having free public transport all the time. Transport experts entered the debate to encourage the State Government to buy back the train and tram franchises, (the current contracts expire at the end of 2008) in the public’s best interest. The rising cost of petrol and the Government’s upcoming transport and liveability statement due in May, will certainly have people talking about transport.
What action could I take?I wanted to know more about the government’s transport and liveability statement, do something to improve litter/rubbish management at railway stations, and encourage lively debate about transport and its impacts on people’s lives. I decided that I want to learn more about the ‘Government’s transport and liveability statement’. I used the internet and the search engine Google. Those four words resulted in 24, 100 hits. Wow! What did I find? Surprisingly, I found little information on this soon to be released document, except for one sentence on a government website stating that it will discuss transport infrastructure priorities. What I did find was a wealth of information on public transport. One helpful website was the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). An informative and easy to read document (that can be accessed through the PTUA website) was the Coalition for People’s Transport document called ‘Transport and Liveability: The Path to a Sustainable Victoria’, published in February 2006. This group includes members from diverse groups like the PTUA, the Victorian Council of Social Service, Environment Victoria and Friends of the Earth Melbourne.
What process did I go through?
- Firstly, I had to decide what issue I wanted to look at.
- What action could I do that would fit in with my week?
- What resources would I need to do my action?
- Overcome barriers to act and do it!
- Reflect on my experience and what I learnt.
- Share my experience with others to helps them or encourages more debate (or different thinking) on transport.
What obstacles did I have to overcome?The biggest barrier initially was deciding on an action to take that could fit in with my busy week (work and other commitments). When I took my action, I didn’t get my desired result and so I questioned was my action worth it or should I have done something else? After getting over my initial disappointment, I decided that my efforts weren’t in vain, I have learnt a whole lot of new and useful information about transport and some organisations that I didn’t know even existed!
How did I feel before my action?To be honest, I was overwhelmed by various issues in society and thought hard about what action to take. I decided to look at the issue of public transport as I have been a regular train commuter for eight years, irregular user of buses and trams, and any changes in public transport affect me personally. I’m also a closet advocate for public transport and its many benefits and challenges it now faces.
How did I feel after my action?I was amazed at what I didn’t know and glad to be more informed. Thanks to the PTUA’s website I know my rights better. For instance, an inspector must advise you of the nature of the offence or suspected offence when asking for your name and address. What I found most interesting was your entitlement to ask them for their name, to produce their authority and state their place of duty, if they ask for your personal details. If the inspector fails to provide this information or it is false, you can report it to the Director of Public Transport and they can be fined. I also learnt that liveability is defined as quality of life or group indicators of health, environment, safety, housing, mobility, participation, employment and income, and education.
I am also more motivated to consider writing to a newspaper or the government, willing and eager to read the government’s upcoming statement, and to speak out about transport. I knew I cared about improving public transport, but this experience has revealed my deep concern and passion for this topic. However, the biggest surprise was how challenged I felt after reading the Coalition’s transport and liveability report. I am now considering using public transport more for social outings (e.g. like visiting friends who live close to a train station instead of my car) and making an effort to car pool more often to help reduce traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and cost of petrol.
Why do I think this issue is important?The use of public transport affects the use of private transport, and the condition of the natural environment and roads. It also influences traffic congestion, safety, and people’s capacity to get to social events, medical appointments or other places like shops. They may not be able to afford to run a car or can’t drive for other reasons. It is also an equity issue, it impacts on people’s health/well-being and the time it takes trades people to get around Melbourne to jobs.
What can you do yourself?
- Write to newspapers, local MPs, the private companies that run trains (Connex Melbourne) or trams (Yarra Trams) or buses, and the State Government.
- Consider joining the Coalition of People’s Transport or one of its own individual member groups like the Public Transport Users Association or Environment Victoria.
- Use public transport where possible to help the environment.
- Consider doing research on transport or participating in studies.
- Visit melbourneontrack’s website to get involved with The Coalition for People’s Transport campaign.
- Talk to family and friends to discuss and brainstorm ways to take positive action to change the transport system.
Where did I find my information?
http://www.google.com.au
http://www.theage.com.au
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/achievements/achieve...
http://www.ptua.org.au Look under Quick Links for Your rights on public transport.
The Coalition for People’s Transport’s Transport and Liveability Statement can be found at:
http://www.melbourneontrack.org.au/publications/ . This page also contains their campaign to get Transport Minister Peter Bachelor and the government to reconsider their current spending and stance on transport (roads and public transport).
