VCOSS

Transport

Transport plays a critical role helping people access employment, education, community life and services like healthcare. But for many low income and disadvantaged communities, especially in outer suburbs, rural and regional areas, people experience transport disadvantage leaving them less able to get from A-to-B easily, safely and affordably.

VCOSS believes that affordable, accessible transport can play a significant role connecting people with a range of social and economic opportunities.

VCOSS campaigns for:

• public transport improvements in outer suburban Melbourne and in rural and regional areas
• disability accessibility upgrades on trams, trains and buses

Please also see our Accessible Transport page.

Contact:

Llewellyn Reynders at llewellyn.reynders@vcoss.org.au

More information:

• Media Releases

  23 March 2012 ABS data shows alarming drop in transport mobility A growing number of Victorians are finding it increasingly difficult to travel to the places they need to with older people and young adults in particular being left behind as the State’s public transport woes intensify. 29 February 2012 Auditor General calls attention to accessible transport and bus network The Victorian Auditor General, in his Public Transport Performance Audit Report released today, has called on the Department of Transport (DoT) to improve its delivery of accessible transport, and to pay as much attention to buses as it does to trains and trams. 29 September 2011 VCOSS welcomes Taxi Inquiry response to user concerns The Victorian Council of Social Service welcomes the Taxi Inquiry’s focus on the issues of Victorian taxi users who are struggling with high fares, sporadic quality and want a service that meets their diverse needs. more...

• Reports

  Better bus access - Summary report of the Bus Access Forum Summary Report of the Bus Access Forum Held 1 September 2011 in collaboration between the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and the Victorian Department of Transport (DOT) Author: VCOSS Date: November 2011 The Voices of Taxi Users Summary Report of the VCOSS Taxi Forum Held in collaboration with the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry 20 July 2011 Author: VCOSS Date: September 2011 Creating Accessible Journeys This report has been produced by the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) to examine the progress towards improving the public transport system in Victoria to meet the needs of a greater variety of users, including people with diverse mobility requirements. (PDF, DOC and TXT) Author: VCOSS Date: September 2011 more...

• Submissions

  Submission on the draft bus specifications Victoria deserves a world-class public transport system, that provides everyone with good access to the opportunities and services they need to live a dignified and meaningful life. Author: VCOSS Date: February 2012 Submission to: Draft Heavy Duty Ultra Low Floor Route Bus Specification Exploring the opportunities for reform: Smart transport for a growing nation project Transport affects every aspect of a person's life, including their ability to stay healthy, be educated, find work, raise children, age with dignity, and stay connected with family and friends. Transport, therefore, is an essential service, whose benefits cannot be measured solely by their contribution to economic activity. Author: VCOSS Date: October 2011 Submission to: The National Transport Commission's discussion paper: Exploring the opportunities for reform Submission to the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry VCOSS has a significant history in advocating for improved access to transport, including in the taxi industry, and was significantly involved in advocating changes to the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program during a restructure of the scheme in the recent past. Author: VCOSS Date: September 2011 Submission to: Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry more...

• Blog posts

  Access to train stations: more than ramps and lifts (12/09/2011 11:40 AM) Making public transport accessible is more than an argument about ramps and lifts at train stations. While the very real problems of train station design has been highlighted by stranded passengers at stations with frequent lift failures – and no … The benefits of the Regional Rail Link (16/03/2011 11:06 AM) There has been much excited speculation in the media about the future of Victoria’s proposed Regional Rail Link. The Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Terry Mulder, has released information that the project estimates were now $880 million more than originally … When transport fails young people (21/12/2010 11:49 AM) The edges of Melbourne can be a hard place to live if you don’t drive a car. Young families often relocate to edge of Melbourne so they could afford a buy a home for their growing family. However, when those … more...