Get on, get off,..get around

Get on, get off,..get around Einsteigen, aussteigen.. umsteigen! Salzburg 15-16 September 2008 Dr Alan Burnett Policy Officer, Help the Aged Chairman, Portsmouth Pensioners Association and Phil Rossall, Information Manager Busse und Fahrpässe Erfahrungen and Meinungen älterer Stadtbewohner 1

KEY STATS UK, ENGLAND AND PORTSMOUTH In UK there are 13,262,400 PEOPLE AGED 60 AND OVER more than the total of those aged under 18 11,108,400 people aged 60 and over living in ENGLAND are eligible for the new free off-peak local bus pass equal in total to the populations of Greece, Cuba and Zambia; the Palestinian nation, the number of children currently orphaned by HIV/Aids in Africa; and the estimated population of people living in the Alps It is estimated that 7 million older people in England applied for and possess a bus pass for use on local bus services nationally The are 2,462,873 adults aged 60 and over in UK with a disability or longstanding health problem which makes it difficult to use local buses or go out on foot. In addition 870,226 claim a mobility allowance In the City of Portsmouth in 2008, 20,250 bus passes were claimed by those eligible, 9,483 packs of travel tokens to the value of 37 by those aged over 60 but not registered as disabled, and 3,659 packs of travel tokens to the value of 40 for those registered as disabled. HELP THE AGED AND SARA Since the early 1990s Help the Aged has campaigned to make public transport SARA - SAFE ACCESSIBLE RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE The charity has provided over one thousand minibuses for local schemes to help enhance the mobility of older people with disabilities The needs of older drivers have been researched and advocated, and the problems faced by elderly pedestrians have been highlighted 2

Wann fahren Fußballspieler mit dem Bus? 3

Wo ist die nächste Kneipe? 4

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Buslinien im Stadtraum Portsmouth 6

The respondents and the questionnaire Fragen und Antworten 12,418 people in Portsmouth completed the two-sided questionnaire; 7,045 respondents supplied answers to question 5 (factors preventing greater use of the bus) 7

Mobility Problems Mobilitätsschwierigkeiten 16 per cent of the sample reported themselves as registered disabled; 26 per cent as having restricted/limited mobility (not registered disabled but experiencing difficulties or discomfort either walking more than 200 metres or getting on/off local buses); and 55 per cent described themselves as generally able- bodied and mobile. Barriers to bus use Die Barrieren 8

Main form of local transport Hauptverkehrsmittel For their main form of transport within the local area (q3): 30 per cent of registered disabled relied on taxis (26 per cent buses, 28 per cent cars) 43 per cent with limited mobility relied on buses (26 per cent taxis, 20 per cent cars) and 52 per cent of the able-bodied relied on cars (34 per cent cars and only 5 per cent taxis) A lower percentage of women (23 per cent) than men (38 per cent) were reliant on cars Travel concessions Wer die Wahl hat,.. 82 per cent of respondents favoured giving a wide choice of travel concessions to all senior citizens, with only 9 per cent supporting giving such provision only to those with physical mobility problems 9

Comments on why we don t use the bus more Warum fährt man nicht öfter mit dem Bus? No direct bus route to St Mary s hospital Can t walk uphill to the bus stop Some buses pull up too fast, so you are catapulted to the front Drivers should let everyone sit down before taking off Buses have poor suspension they are boneshakers. It s a rock and roll experience Because of age and infirmity I cannot use buses I regret the loss of bus conductors, who were able to control the bad behaviour of youngsters Buses come along five at a time and then you have a long wait I was told he would rip my arm off if I asked him to turn his stereo down 10

Opinion was more evenly divided on the issue of giving older senior citizens more tokens for taxis than younger ones 55 per cent supported the same amount being given and 35 per cent were in favour of more for the 75+ age group. Not surprisingly, perhaps, it was only the 80+ age group that backed more generous provision for the older old Travel Tokens 11

Travel tokens 75+ 12

Quotes from those with limited mobility The use of taxis by many elderly people is because they need door-todoor transport. Their physical lack of mobility prevents them from using buses, which can be quite an ordeal for them Because of age and infirmity I cannot use buses (female, aged 94) Sometimes I can use the bus and sometimes I can t. I am 82! Once I get my hip replacement I will be able to use my free bus pass I would like a strong man to carry my shopping up two flights of stairs to my flat (female respondent, aged 81) 13

Views on the future of travel concessions Wie sieht man die Zukunft? (1) strong support and gratitude to the government and local council for the present system in the city and choice being given of a bus pass or tokens and backing for the latter to be retained (2) the need for the value of tokens to be increased (3) consideration for travel concessions to include trains (4) demand that the time restrictions on the use of bus passes be removed (5) request that a nationwide system be introduced as soon as possible (6) miscellaneous, mostly constructive, comments on the bus services in the city, the administration of the concessionary fares system, and the composition and implementation of future changes. Myths about older people Mythos und Wirklichkeit Myth 1 As people age, they first lose the ability to drive, then use public transport if it is available; when unable to use public transport they walk; finally, unable to walk, they use special transport. This progression is essentially wrong. In fact, in physical terms driving is often the easiest way for older people to get about. Long before they lose the ability to drive, older people may be unable to board or otherwise use public transport, or walk to a bus stop. Myth 2 Older people who drive meet their own mobility needs. In fact, evidence shows that long before they cease driving people begin to adjust their travel patterns to cope with personal limitations: for example, not driving at night or to congested areas. Myth 3 All loss of mobility skills is permanent; older people either have the skills needed to drive, use public transport, or walk or they do not. In reality, the mobility needs of the elderly are complicated. Public policy discussions in general often fail to recognise the varying abilities of older people. People may stop driving through illness, but begin again as their health improves. Older people may have difficulty walking on some days but not on others. They may be able and willing to travel by conventional public transport on a fine day but need a taxi on a rainy day. Hence, they may require different options on different days or in different seasons of the year. 14

Key policy recommendations 1 More research and consultation 2 Older people with mobility impairment 3 Flexibility and choice in travel concession provision 4 Backing for a nationwide scheme and suggestions for its implementation 5 Barriers to the use of bus services and how they can be tackled 6 Best practice for local authorities And finally Zum Schluß 15

Und wie sieht die Zukunft aus? 16

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Wenn wir zusammen arbeiten,.. Fragen? Auf englisch, bitte! 20