‘Poor access to jobs, health and treatment, as well as social and recreational activity is a defining characteristic of poverty and social disadvantage. An inability to access transport, either because of cost, availability of services or poor physical accessibility is experienced as social exclusion’, says Alison Peters, Director of NCOSS.

‘Transport disadvantage and the subsequent social exclusion increases poverty, decreases emotional, mental and physical well-being, reduces educational attainment and employment opportunities, and can impact upon a community’s overall health, prosperity and progress.’

‘Over the period of many decades there has been a disproportionate investment in roads which has lead to poor availability of public transport services, particularly in rural and regional areas.’

‘NSW is now struggling to play ‘catch-up’ as people realise the negative effects of having a system so dominated by the use of private car transport and land-use planning which has encouraged unsustainable and isolating development patterns.’

‘In isolated and remote regions there is often a limited mix of transport options, and frequently a school bus service is the only form of public transport. Community transport services do exist, but these are often poorly funded and are not able to easily respond to all people who experience transport disadvantage.’

This Kit, developed by the NCOSS Transport Policy Advice Group, is designed to assist organisations and individuals to advocate for a more effective and equitable transport system in NSW.

Transport is the key ‘enabler’ – it links people to each other and to services. Without an effective and equitable system the whole community will suffer.

Download: An-Effective-and-Equitable-Transport-System

Media Contact: Alison Peters, Director 0425 231 814 (mob) (02) 9211 2599 (wk)