Posts Tagged ‘public transport’
Increasing Access to Public Transport: Melbourne Medical Companion Project
Posted in Models, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on March 30th, 2011
Source: Victoria Walks
It is believed that the new Melbourne Medical Companion Project will improve access for many people who live in rural Victoria, who are frail, disabled, ill, or anxious about their journey, and will encourage many people to consider using public transport to attend their health care appointments instead of using the family car.
Volunteer companions are now available to accompany people from the Flinders Street Station and the Southern Cross Station train and bus terminals to health care appointments in central Melbourne.
As part of the Melbourne Medical Companion Project, Travellers Aid volunteers will meet passengers at the Flinders Street Station and the Southern Cross Station train and bus platforms, and accompany them to their Melbourne health care appointments and back again. Passengers will have the choice of using taxis, trams or buses whilst in Melbourne, and the volunteer companions will be experienced in using all three modes of transport. It is believed that the new Melbourne Medical Companion Project will improve access for many people who live in rural Victoria, who are frail, disabled, ill, or anxious about their journey, and will encourage many people to consider using public transport to attend their health care appointments instead of using the family car.
It is Free
Mr Robert Bulmer (Chief Executive Officer, Cohuna District Hospital) said that “the new volunteer service will be free throughout the trial period, with the program designed to take the worry out of travelling to Melbourne for health care”. Ms Thorson (Executive Officer, Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership) added that “it was hoped that the program would be extended beyond its initial trial period of March – December, 2011, however this was dependent upon further funding”.
Help Is Only A Phone Call Away
People interested in accessing the new volunteer-assisted service when travelling to Melbourne should telephone Travellers Aid on 1300 700 399 at least 24 hours prior to their expected travel date.
Regional Assistance
If travellers also need a volunteer to accompany them on the bus or train from their rural town to Melbourne, then a small number of rural volunteers from the Buloke, Gannawarra and Swan Hill municipalities will be available from April, 2011. For more information, please refer to the Regional Companions tab on the Melbourne Medical Companion Project webpage.
About the Project
Thirteen transport connections projects from across Victoria have formed a partnership to develop this new trial service. The Cohuna District Hospital has undertaken a lead agency role in the new project (on behalf of the Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership), and Travellers Aid Australia have been engaged to provide the day-to-day coordination and delivery of the project. Travellers Aid already provide a range of travel related assistance and information at the Flinders Street and Southern Cross Stations in Melbourne, and will now provide this additional volunteer service for people who are unfamiliar with Melbourne and its health and transport systems.
The new Melbourne Medical Companion Project is funded through the Victorian Government’s Transport Connections Program, which is a cross government initiative that helps communities work together to improve access and local transport options.
http://www.smtcp.com.au/medical-companions.html
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Summer Sustainable Transport Campaign: ZCM
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on February 10th, 2011
Source: Zero Carbon Moreland
Image: Cyclovia in Bogota on StreetFilms – see more at the Sustainable Transport Snapshots event
Zero Carbon Moreland are running a three month long sustainable transport campaign from Feb-April. Each month they will be emphasising a different transport theme – and in this month the theme is public transport and sustainable car use. See what information and events are on below and get involved!
- Greening car travel – Some tips for the many people have no option but to use a car
- ZCM Social Night Discussion – Sustainable transport theme, with guest speaker
- Sustainable Transport Snapshots film night – Short videos from inspiring projects around the world
- Community Group profile – Public Transport User’s Association
- ZCM Participant profile – Charmaine Chew
- Victoria’s public transport – What can we expect from the Baillieu government on public transport
Visit Zero Carbon Moreland for more information.
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Public Transport Forum
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on October 21st, 2010
| 27 October , 2010 | ||
| 7:15 pm | to | 8:30 pm |
Source: Sustainability News
Got a question you’d like put to the panel? Send an email with the question you’d like put to the panel of MLCs – northernquestions@pt4me2.org.au Questions will be also taken from the audience on the night.
http://pt4me2.blogspot.com/2010/10/community-q-about-public-transport-what.html
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Street Directories designed for Public Transport Users
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on June 24th, 2010
Public Transport Guides was started by two unemployed people in the town of Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia:
“While living in Perth, Western Australia, we did not know the local public transport network. After visiting the public transport information centre in the CBD, we were handed 500 A4 paper timetables and were told to buy a street directory, or alternatively, to get on to the government authority’s website. Both of these methods are unsuitable for tourists, people who rely totally on public transport, and those with no internet access. There had to be another way, so Public Transport Guides was born!”
The directory is designed just like a regular street directory, with detailed maps, a street and Facilites index , and all current timetables for each area are in this directory. The directory is designed with both the regular commuter and occasional user in mind. Inside you will find all the urban and country bus and connecting train services throughout, Victoria, Australia. The book is in A5 format for ease of carrying in backpacks, briefcases etc.
Visit the website for more information.
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What moves you? What moves your vote? Public Transport Peoples’ Poll
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on April 1st, 2010
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
On Saturday 27 November, Victorians will vote in the next state election. The pt4me2 peoples’ poll is a chance for you to have a say on the improvements you want for public transport. We’ll collate ALL your responses and present them to ALL the major parties in May 2010.
Click the links below to get started. Do one or all of the surveys – each one only takes a minute or so. Please tell your friends about the surveys and have your say before they close on 30 April 2010.
#1 Train users’ survey | #2 Bus users’ survey | #3 Tram users’ survey
# 4 What’s best and worst about public transport survey?
Premier’s challenge: What would be your first three decisions regarding public transport if you were Premier?
Where’s the best and worst railway station in Melbourne survey?
The local surveys are now live
#5 Inner Melbourne: including Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip and Stonnington
#6 Northern suburbs: including Whittlesea, Moreland, Hume and Darebin
#7 Eastern suburbs: including Boroondara, Manningham, Whitehorse, Monash, Knox, Yarra Ranges and Maroondah.
#8 Western suburbs: including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham
#9 North-Eastern suburbs: including Banyule and Nillumbik
#10 South-Eastern suburbs: including Glen Eira, Kingston, Casey and others
U18 voice – the U18 youth poll is open!
Race to Federation Square
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 17th, 2009
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
Manningham is 12 km from Melbourne. Go Bikes! Go Public Transport!
Car #1 travelled 1800 metres in 15 minutes…that’s…7.2km/h…..
Pro-public Transport: Metlink Melbourne Surveys
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on July 27th, 2009
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
Image: the Age
Metlink undertakes and commissions surveys and analyses industry databases to develop insights into passenger attitudes and behaviours. … The Metlink Annual Review for 2008 includes the following key points:
• Melbourne is experiencing the greatest shift of people to public transport than any other Australian city.
• In the past 12 months, 30 per cent of people in Melbourne have decreased their car use. Two out of three of these people moved to public transport and half of these people switched to train travel.
• Melburnians who reduced their car usage in favour of public transport felt positive about it and saw it as a permanent change.
• Melburnians are nearly twice as likely to support investment in public transport infrastructure over roads.
Hybrid-Electric Bus Trial
Posted in Policies by Kate Archdeacon on July 21st, 2009
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
Image: A.Allen via photobucket
“Australia’s first hybrid-electric bus trial has been launched in Melbourne. The $500,000 trial will be on two outer suburban routes and it is expected the buses will emit 20 per cent less greenhouse gases than diesel buses.
Forum: More Housing Along Tram Corridors
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on June 30th, 2009
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
Image: sensesmaybenumbed via Flickr
Planning Institute Australia (PIA) Transport Planning Chapter Forum: Can we accommodate more people living along Melbourne’s tram lines?
Wednesday 15th July, 2009 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
More Urban Sprawl
Posted in Models by Virginia on June 12th, 2009
Melbourne’s urban sprawl will push another 50,000 houses into surrounding farmland in the next 15 years, putting further pressure on Melbourne’s stretched transport system. Despite Government planning policies backing increased city density, almost half of all new housing expected in Melbourne over the next decade will be built on Melbourne’s fringes where there is little access to public transport.
A report by the Government’s urban development program estimated that ‘an average of around 13,300 lots are required annually to meet projected dwelling demand across the growth areas over the next 15 years’. “The report found current land zoned for housing was not adequate for the expected demand. ‘The 2008 urban development program has identified that there is approximately 10-11 years’ total supply of broad-hectare land (set aside) across metropolitan Melbourne growth areas, which constitutes a current shortfall of residential land for future requirements’, the report said. Government policy is to have 15 years of land available for housing.
The report indicated that at least 50,000 houses would be built outside Melbourne’s current boundary in the next 15 years. Greens MP Colleen Hartland said: ‘There is already a huge strain; the Government is simply not putting money into public transport, they are letting those outer growth suburbs be built without any public transport’. ”
Ref: Jason Dowling, The Age, 9/5/09
For more information check out the Going Solar site.