Page 3720 - Week 12 - Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Key barriers and constraints to enabling these people to make greater use of public transport and active travel include concerns about safety, distance and logistics; having too much to carry or too much to do on the way, often referred to as trip chaining. Time considerations are a real factor in how respondents to the Her Way report chose to travel.
One respondent said, “Every minute of every day is planned and precise. We have no choice but to choose the most efficient way to do everything”. I think we can all relate to that. Safety concerns were also woven into nearly every aspect of barriers and constraints for women about their travel options, and my report recommendations reflect this. The 43 recommendations in the report are grouped around key themes of communication, infrastructure and creating the ecosystem.
Some of these include providing resources and tools to support people to prepare personalised travel plans; improve communication about the ACT government’s real-time digital technology app; design and conduct a dedicated marketing and communications campaign; continue to invest in the ACT’s active travel network, ensuring connectivity and safety; trialling pop-up, separated bike lane interventions; improve communications about secure bike-parking locations and ensure all bike-parking facilities are located in high areas of passive surveillance; provide more lighting at bus stops, interchanges, and, as part of the development of light rail stage 2, explore opportunity for increased safety on buses at night-time; review Park and Ride demand and capacity and continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders; trial street closures for increased people-based activity, similar to that recently undertaken in Manuka; encourage the use of e-bikes; support a culture of flexible working arrangements; establish a process to incorporate diverse and inclusive voices into policy, design and infrastructure outcomes; and continue to encourage and facilitate public transport and active travel to schools.
As part of my own continued work in this space, I am intending to engage further with Early Childcare ACT and the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Association as well as to continue collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders for some great outcomes. I also intend to establish a focus group with some of the Her Way respondents to support each other and share our stories to inspire others to learn from the key stakeholder groups.
Regarding stakeholders, we are lucky to have so many skilled, knowledgeable and committed organisations in the ACT who are working in the active travel and public transport sectors. These organisations carry out really important advocacy work as well as a broad range of community programs, projects, campaigns and activities. I thank these groups for their ongoing commitment and tireless efforts and for their support of and input into the Her Way campaign.
Some of those groups include Pedal Power ACT, the Amy Gillett Foundation, the Heart Foundation, ACTCOSS, the YWCA, Conservation Council ACT, the Physical Activity Foundation, Girls on Bikes ACT, and Women’s Health Matters. I engaged closely with these groups in the last few months. And the Her Way recommendations have been strengthened and verified through their input.
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