Page 201 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 February 2018
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Transport Canberra bus network. This Canberran works in the parliamentary triangle. Although she own as car, she would prefer to commute by bus in part because over the past few years the ACT government has made it so expensive for her and others like her to park near their workplaces. Before the recent changes to the bus network this constituent was able to get to work on a single bus and in what she considered a reasonable amount of time. Now she says she is required to take multiple buses that—this is the worst part—can result in commutes of over 90 minutes in some cases.
This is not how a competent government encourages workers to use public transportation. Thankfully, this Canberran still has the very expensive option of taking her private vehicle to work, but at least she has a choice. Pity our less affluent neighbours and those who are older and/or have mobility issues who are dependent on public transport to get anywhere and now find themselves facing even greater inconvenience: having to walk longer distances, use less frequent and/or slower services and take multiple buses just to complete a simple trip.
It is these residents who have become a special worry for a number of the ACT’s community councils since the introduction of the bus network changes. Older Canberrans who face a choice of longer trips on two buses or a longer walk to access a new rapid route often feel like they are stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Unfortunately, the outcome for many of them will be increased social isolation.
I raised the same concern in this chamber last year in relation to older residents in Latham who need to walk more than a kilometre to get to the nearest bus stop on weekends. Nothing has changed. This is not an age-friendly city when the ACT government expects the elderly to walk unrealistic distances to catch a bus.
For example, according to the Transport Canberra online trip planner, an older resident living in the eastern half of Macrossan Crescent in Latham needs to take a footpath that descends to Ginninderra Creek, go under the westbound lanes of Ginninderra Drive, cross Ginninderra Creek, go under the eastbound lanes of Ginninderra Drive, climb a footpath up into the suburb of Flynn and then, while you are almost there, just keep walking to Companion Crescent. Now you are finally ready to catch a Transport Canberra bus.
Google Maps says that this walk of more than 1,000 metres should take 15 minutes to complete. But the length is not the only challenge. Madam Deputy Speaker, can you honestly imagine that an elderly resident in Macrossan Crescent is going to be able to make such a trip with ease? Even those able bodied enough to make a one kilometre trek to a bus stop still struggle with the recent changes to Canberra’s bus network.
A Canberra high school has complained that the latest changes to the bus network mean that buses are now arriving too late for their students. A high school student who prior to November was able to take a single bus to school now walks because changes to the timetable mean that the bus arrives too late in the morning for her to arrive on time. She has been left to walk a long distance to school each morning.
I have gone into some detail here because I worry that those in this chamber who make the decisions sometimes forget what it is like for those who are completely
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