Young People and Public Transport

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Young People and (Public) Transport
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Our Vision

• Our vision is for a Victorian Community that
  values and provides opportunity, participation,
  justice and equity for all young people
•  YACVic actively works towards this vision as the
  peak body and leading policy advocate on young
  peoples issues in Victoria

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Overview

• Nature of young peoples use of public transport
• Importance of transport to young people and the
  many benefits it has for them and the broader
  community
• Young peoples experience of using public
  transport and some of the public space issues
  that lie behind their use
• Public transport timetabling, and accessibility
  and those impacts on young peoples usage
• Explore some solutions, particularly solutions
  that young people have identified

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How do we know?

• Consultations with young people
• YACVic Research
• Snapshots from the Edge young people and
  service providers on the urban fringe of
  Melbourne 2005
• Young People and Public Transport in the Inner
  City (with the ICRYC)
• YACVic Policy Papers
• Space Invaders? Young People and Public Space
• Young Drivers Safety

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Nature of Young Peoples Use

• Young People (12-25) are big users of PT
• For many young people
• transport public transport
• The rely on it more than most other groups
• Transport (and therefore public transport) raises
  its head at every meeting that we have with/about
  young people
• It impacts on many (every) aspect of their lives

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Importance of PT for young people

• Beyond the reliance on pt for school, work and
  recreation
• Young peoples use of pt fosters a growing sense
  of independence
• Importance of navigating the world on your terms
• Lack of transport options inhibit ability to
  access services confidentially (same sex
  attracted yp, mental health services, sexual
  health etc)
• Benefits for the Boarder community of yps
  mobility

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Young Peoples Experience of using PT

• Safety
• What does the word (public) mean?
• Young people perceived as future citizens
• Who has the right to use public transport
• Public transport as public space

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Practical Considerations

• Cost
• Timetabling
• Connecting services
• Weekend services
• Evening services
• Late night usage

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Solutions???

• Stop playing classical music at train stations
• Improve links
• Increase security
• Train transit officers to work better with young
  people (incl CALD training)
• Alternatives to fining system (caypins a start)
• Credit/voucher system for taxi use
• Increase nightrider services

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Acknowledgements

• Inner City Regional Youth Committee (now Inner
  City RYAN)
• VCOSS
• Interface Councils
• Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues
• VIC Roads
• YouthLaw
• Public Space Action Group

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Links

• Young Driver Safety
• http//www.yacvic.org.au/pages/policy/submissions
  .htm
• Space Invaders? http//www.yacvic.org.au/pages/pol
  icy/policypapers.htm
• Snapshots from the Edge
• http//www.yacvic.org.au/pages/policy/publication
  s.htm
• Young People and Public Transport in the Inner
  City
• http//www.yacvic.org.au/pages/policy/publication
  s.htm

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For more information

• Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc.
• T. 03 9267 3799
• E. info_at_yacvic.org.au
• W. www.yacvic.org.au