Page 554 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Using averages can sometimes be problematic. Town and group centres provide three per cent parking for disabled parking, but part of the problem is that the requirements are not homogenous. We all know that there are particular areas in the ACT where the population is ageing and the growth in demand for mobility parking is outstripping the provision. The ACT government’s official population projections need to inform where to increase mobility parking spaces, commensurate with demand. The unfortunate reality of living in Canberra is that we are a very car dependent city because of our design.
As you are all aware, the Greens have always supported and promoted greater use of public transport. We had this debate again this morning, and I am very pleased that all members, all sides of this Assembly, now seem to be signing on with much more enthusiasm to the concept that public transport is really important and if we had a better public transport system then we would not need as many mobility parking spaces. But we do not.
I acknowledge that the ACT government has been investing in more accessible buses. The 40 new blue buses, I believe, are only replacement buses; they are not expanding their fleet. They are there because our existing orange buses are not disability compliant. It is a good thing that we are having disability-compliant buses. It is also really good for those people who are trying to push a pram onto a bus. We are also doing some work in terms of more accessible bus stops but not nearly as much work in terms of useable foot paths so that people can actually get to the bus stop or the light rail stop and then on to the vehicle.
Public transport is not always going to be the most appropriate form of transport for those who have mobility issues. That is why the ACT Greens ensured that the eighth parliamentary agreement included implementation of a centralised, standalone booking service for the wheelchair accessible taxi service, in addition to extra taxis, wheelchair accessible community transport, increased subsidy and the introduction of a smartcard system. I acknowledge that there has been some work in this space and that the reach of the flexible bus system has been expanded. This has been in accordance with the current ninth parliamentary agreement, which expanded it to the inner north.
But there are considerable drawbacks to the flexible bus system, and members of the community tell me it is inadequate, firstly, because of the time restrictions. It has to be outside school hours because they are using buses which would otherwise be used for taking disabled kids to their schools. And there is the need to book well in advance. The other problem is that there is a huge amount of unmet demand, such that people do not even bother trying to book it because they know they will not be able to get onto it.
The other problem is that the buses normally will only go to your nearest bus interchange, which does not always work. It does not address what is known as the last mile problem. In particular, as we age we need to access more medical care. Even though there are doctors in most local centres, you find you have more need to travel to specialists, and these specialists are not situated in each local centre. People
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video