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What are the barriers and opportunities in relation to encouraging more use of sustainable transport modes to improve environmental and health outcomes?
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Comment 1 28 Jul 2009, 9:42 PM
While buses aren't quicker, aren't cheaper, and are less convenient than driving a car, they will always lose out to jumping in the car. If and when buses win on some of these points (as they do for people working in civic), we will see more use.
Comment 1.1 14 Aug 2009, 10:42 AM
Having looked at the 2031 Strategic Plan Map at <http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/158479/09370_Strategic_Plan_Map_2032_services.pdf> a barrier to health outcomes would be lack close bus services by the fresh food markets (for access to affordable, seasonal and healthier e.g. less processed or unprocessed food which can be less kilojoule and sodium dense and higher in fibre --> better health), given one may be laden with a heavy load and maybe even kids. e.g. near entry in Fyshwick. Admittedly, it is hard to tell exactly where the markets even are on the map as street names aren't there.
Similarly, access to sporting facilities e.g. Basketball ACT's stadium in the Belconnen trades area for games, practice or camps encourages activity which can assist with mental and physical health (again, it is hard to tell exactly where the stadium is on the map).
On the 2031 map still, a barrier to sustainable transport modes being used would be not providing any services within West City and ACTON (ANU campus and Black Mountain CSIRO). This is inconsistent with the demand anticipated from the the report's information on retail, residential and employment density, and student demand. This would be concentrated in certain areas, not distributed throughout Acton.
Comment 2 30 Jul 2009, 11:39 AM
Streetlighting and safety are big issues for bus users. Better lighting along all streets is needed so that people feel safe walking to and from the stops; better lighting and security is needed at stops and interchanges.
Buses that run late at night would be good too (and would probably cut down on drink driving)
Comment 3 30 Jul 2009, 12:03 PM
Accessibility of bus timetable information. Other cities have real time tracking of buses, and services such as web pages which will tell you when the next bus on your route will arrive at the closest bus stop. Why does the ACTION web site force me to view a PDF which is too big to view on my phone to work out when the next bus is?
Comment 4 30 Jul 2009, 2:09 PM
Who is writing these questions? Health outcomes? Socially inclusive community? How about "what do you think would make buses more attractive as no one seems to like them?" or "what would make you stop driving and walk/ride/bus to work?".
Comment 5 30 Jul 2009, 9:53 PM
* At the moment the buses often are just carrying mostly air. Obivously not environmentally great. Streamline the routes so that they're not so convoluted (ie mainly travel feeder/main roads - most people live near one of these). This delivers higher frequency services on fewer routes that are easier to remember, and benefits health (you walk maybe 5-10 mins instead of 200m).
The higher frequency service encourages more people to use it, meaning the buses start carrying people not just air.
* Easy and free access for car parking in the Triangle. This strongly encourages car use, especially since there's few walkable more…
Comment 5.1 3 Aug 2009, 10:34 PM
Also: having separate weekend and weekday timetables in a significant barrier to using the bus system. Twice as many routes to learn!!
Just run the weekend timetable at reduced frequency, or have some routes that just don't run weekends (rather than changing the route, number, times etc on those that still do).
Comment 5.2 14 Sep 2009, 10:25 AM
Morning travel between Civic and Belconnen can involve waiting for two or three buses before one has any space.
Comment 6 31 Jul 2009, 6:33 PM
Walking needs to be easier and safer. For example:
Crossing Northbourne Avenue in Civic as a pedestrian takes far too long due to the way the traffic lights operate.
Curved street corners encourage speeding cars and make it difficult for pedestrians to cross safely.
Even streets with many pedestrians, notably Northbourne Avenue in Civic again, are race tracks for vehicles - speed limits should be reduced, and enforced, in these areas.
Footpaths should be kept clear of obstructions, such as vehicles. Even outside of office hours.
Shopping centres etc. should provide easy foot access, and not force people to walk the long way around through the car park or a hedge - for example, try walking from Belconnen markets to Bunnings.
Comment 7 2 Aug 2009, 9:10 PM
Barriers
Canberra was designed for the car, buses are unlikely to ever be quick enough
Bus routes are limited, going from uncommon destinations i.e. one suburb to another on the other side of the city there is unlikely to be an easy bus connection
Cycle lanes on roadways will only ever be for those with a death wish, cycle lanes close or more direct is a far better option.
People are not likely to ever cycle from Gordon to Gungahlin, transport policies should not be designed with these presumptions (or similar)
Opportunities
Not recycling the same ideas through the bus timetables, shorter and direct routs will win more passengers
Comment 8 6 Aug 2009, 9:39 AM
a) Barriers
* Bus stops not near my destination when shopping. It is so much easier and quicker to drive when there is close by and free parking. Especially carrying heavy shopping
* My poor cognitive mapping skills. An interactive trip planner can help with this when I am interstate, but there isn't one here. It could also save me time.
* The weather (extreme heat, cold, wind...).
* Fear of crime.
* Mobility problems, but the easy access buses are better to get off or on of. No seating a bus-stops is a barrier here too.
* Distance to interchanges for Bike'n'Ride.
* For health outcomes more…
Comment 9 6 Aug 2009, 10:37 AM
a) Barrier
A barrier for me in sustainable transport is the topography - hills for riding or walking up e.g. inner city to Belconnen.
b) Opportunity
Take the time to start thinking of the future we want. Recognise that there are a range of options for transport and destinations. Cars link to obesity, poor health and high costs for health care. Walking and cycling offer an alternative. Good, affordable/free public transport allows us to access facilities including getting to doctors, therapists, exercise facilities and hospitals and is another alternative. No alternative is mutually exclusive of another. Also, mixing modes of transport is doable e.g. Park'n'Ride, Bike'n'Ride or parking your bike at a bus stop and bussing, then walking.
Comment 10 7 Aug 2009, 11:22 PM
We must consider that the ACT is a workplace for the surrounding region both north & south. The problem for the south is the congestion on Canberra Ave from commuters from QBN, Jerra and other areas. These outlying areas are also adding to the airport congestion.
We have a railway line that is doing nothing – why not use it to take people into Canberra and out to Bungendore (if a realistic trip journey time is achievable and it is affordable).
We should ask the Japanese Railway people for advice!
Comment 10.1 8 Aug 2009, 12:26 PM
Not just the Japanese: The Swedes and Norwegians know what they're doing, as do the Americans (sometimes). The metro/tram/bus networks in Tokyo, Stockholm, Oslo, Boston (cities I've stayed in for between 3 days to 2 months) really work; people actually use public transportation more than their own vehicles. If I can summarise what these other large (mostly capital) cities have in common:
* buses/rail are really frequent (every 10 minutes at the LEAST)
* buses on time, late by 2 minutes at the most
* easy timetabling (both hard-copies AND online search-able planners) that make you want to use these options.
In Canberra, the more…
Comment 10.1.1 14 Aug 2009, 1:30 PM
I have to agree on the cowboy attitude of some (not most) bus drivers - which is very much a part of road culture generally in this country ... swerving, on and off the brakes, tail-gating and impatient lane changing are all on exhibit. The closest calls I have had to being swept off my bike have been with buses, which concerns me greatly as to their training and attitude. I can understand why many are discouraged from cycling on the road and to riding buses!
Comment 10.1.1.1 14 Sep 2009, 4:14 PM
My wife travells from Civic to Belconnen and return every working. She complains regularly about the rough driving by ACTION cowboys. Perhaps ACTION don't have black-box recorders like other juristrictions, that record driving performance.
Comment 11 14 Aug 2009, 5:42 PM
Teenagers can't wait to get behind the wheel of a car - the advertisers get to them very early on - it's cool to be seen in a flashy little car - in charge of your own destiny, the uncluttered road winding serenely ahead of you. And once they are seduced it's pretty hard to winkle them out ... central heating, comfortable seats, power steering, superb sound system! Parents are complicit in this - no more having to transport them around and lets face it they are all regular car users as well. Old fogies banging on about the benefits more…
Comment 12 15 Aug 2009, 10:01 AM
The major short term barriers are
(1) the provision of excessive car parking spaces - both free and paid - at town centres and in other major employment precincts;
(2) the failure of government to curb the expansion of offices and retailing in Civic and the Parliamentary Triangle (and more recently, the airport) at the expense of the town centres, resulting in increased road congestion, accidents and traffic delays and a massive blowout in infrastructure costs around the Civic and airport precincts as well as compromising the financial viability of the public transport system.
The major longer term barrier is the more…
Comment 12.1 28 Aug 2009, 6:18 PM
Agree with most of this.
You should have seen how bus travel at Woden increased when there was no carparking there!
And let's not be fixated on public transport = buses on normal roads...there are many other options.
Comment 13 28 Aug 2009, 1:05 PM
[Repeated from Q2] Perceived convenience of using cars is a major hurdle that needs to be overcome. For example, I once lived on near a bus stop for a bus route that would take 3 out of the 4 people in the house direct to their work (closer than any car park). I was the only one who used the bus - the other two prefered to use their car because it was 'more convenient'.
Campaigns providing reality checks may be needed!
Comment 14 14 Sep 2009, 10:29 AM
There is a proposal for improving public transport in the ACT that will result in a dramatic increase in public transport usage. Canberra could become the largest city in the world demonstrating this approach to environmentally responsible public transport.
The bottom-line cost to the ACT government should be minimal over ten years. There will be some up-front capital cost for larger or additional ACTION buses, to cope with increased patronage, and possibly some redeployment costs for redundant ACTION staff. These up-front capital costs would be much less than the capital cost of a light-rail service and other planned road improvements. ACTION's more…