Age Action Alliance Transport Working Group
16 May 2016
Attendees
Roger Mackett Centre for Transport Studies UCL (Chair)
John Kerry East Midlands Later Life Forum
Bill Ions Years Ahead
Joe Oldham Age UK
John Welham Future Years
Deborah Clarke Action with Communities in Rural England
Rachel Lee Living Streets
Apologies
Peter Rayner NPC Transport Adviser
Julia Pride SEEFA
Ping Teo Transport Focus
Charles Musselwhite Swansea University
Chris Cornwell Hartley Wintney & District Over 55s Forum
Ron Douglas President NPC
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. The Minutes of the last meeting were accepted
3. Action Points from last meeting
Roger will review Chris Cornwell’s paper Insurance on Mobility scooters and arrange for it to be uploaded to the AAA website.
John Kerry’s paper on bus shelter facilities needs better quality photographs before it can be finalised and uploaded to the AAA website.
The other points will be covered elsewhere on the meeting Agenda.
4. ILC UK Report The Future of transport in an Ageing Society
Following questions from this Group on follow up to the recommendations of the ILC Report Roger consulted with David Sinclair and arranged a meeting to discuss actions that could be taken. Invitees were asked to list and ranked the recommendations; four main areas were decided upon for further discussion.
1. Provide schemes to match those who want lifts with those who offer them online or through a mobile phone app;
2. Promote integrated and convenient bus systems which are more attractive to potential public transport users using the provisions of the Buses Bill;
3. Encourage community car sharing schemes in rural communities with older people who no longer wish to drive giving their car to a younger person in return for transport vouchers;
4. Set up schemes to take elderly people without cars to medical appointments.
An extract from the notes taken at that meeting is provided below for your information:
“These (four main areas) were seen as being part of a policy of providing integrated local transport in low density areas using public buses, community transport, taxis and volunteer drivers. It was recognised that there were a number of successful schemes in various parts of the country. It was also recognised that national government is unlikely to be involved in such schemes because of its policy of localism and that local government is unlikely to be able to fund such schemes. It was agreed that the key to the success of any such venture is communication, and that companies such as Google and Uber might be interested. A project might be loosely based around the mobility as a service concept (see http://www.itsineurope.com/its10/media/press_clippings/ITS%20Supp_et214.pdf ) or utilising the sharing economy approach perhaps involving a timebank style initiative. Charles Musselwhite agreed to see whether it would be possible to obtain funding from Swansea University through a scheme to involve high-tech companies in initiatives with a social dimension, called CHERISH-DE (see http://cherish-de.uk/index.html ). David Sinclair agreed to investigate the possibility of hosting a meeting of this type of company and members of the group.
Chris Cornwell, who has practical knowledge and experience of running a Voluntary Care Group that has been providing hospital transport since 1977, agreed to do some work around this by seeking examples of best practice and how a national database might be established to identify where provision exists. This will help identify gaps in service, so that thought can be given to how to establish new Groups. A single database would also assist those needing help and/or their relatives who may seek to source help for those without access to the internet.
The following ideas were brought together as ways of improving travel by public transport by older people:
· Provide training to all public transport staff about older people’s needs and issues, including dementia awareness;
· Standardise transport assistance cards across the country.
Because a five-month project to collect information on the effectiveness of current travel training schemes is currently being carried out for the Department for Transport, it was agreed to wait for the report to be produced”
The Group fed in the following related comments:
The Total Transport Pilot Projects are aimed at joining up local transport particularly across low density areas.
Discussions appear to be focussed on older people but any decisions or actions need to be relevant for those on low incomes and younger people.
Gwynneth stated that whilst community transport was good many vehicles couldn’t accommodate wheelchairs.
The Federation of Small Business (FSB) are due to launch, on 25th May, a new piece of research that shows how good quality public transport systems, and a well maintained road network, are essential ingredients in promoting rural productivity, profitability and growth in England. The research will show that small businesses are heavily reliant on high quality road networks and public transport systems in order to reach customers, suppliers and for staff to be able to travel to and from the workplace. The launch event is being hosted by Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee
Wider distribution of the ILC Report might raise the profile of issues and recommendations.
5. Buses Bill
Bill gave a quick overview of the Buses Bill as per the last meeting in February, but there was no new information to report.
6. Overcoming Barriers and Identifying Opportunities for Walking for Disabled People – Living Streets
Rachel Lee reported on this piece of research which is due to be released next week; a link will follow in due course. The key findings show that:
· 72% of disabled people take part in no physical activity
· 35% of people over age of 75 have a mobility problem
· A wide range of mobility issues impact on the ability of people to get out and walk i.e. visual and hearing impairments
Focus groups were held with groups with different ranges of disabilities. The groups were asked to describe a journey and highlight physical (seating and bus shelters), organisational (policies of bus companies) and attitudes (behaviour of the public). The research also considered training for organisations, supporters and carers working with people with learning difficulties.
Other areas considered in the research were crossings and the state of pavements. Footbridges with ramps and lifts are often the answer for crossing busy roads. Subways often have barriers making access impossible for those on mobility scooters.
A discussion followed regarding parking on pavements. Rachel commented that there had been 2 Private Members Bills around this issue.
Deborah will circulate the link to the research report when it is available.
7. Older Drivers’ Taskforce
Joe Oldman Age UK reported on the discussions taking place within the Older Drivers’ Taskforce.
· They believe that a national strategy for older drivers between DfT and DVLA is needed.
· Specific regulations to raise the renewal age for driver licences to 75
· Put improving refresher courses in place rather than retesting
· Consideration of whether the National Driver Offenders Retraining (NDORS) scheme should introduce a course especially for older people and those with disabilities. The concern is whether this is discriminatory? Some view it as positive discrimination.
· Improving safety for older drivers includes design of new vehicles (especially smaller vehicles) by manufacturers and designers in consultation with medical professionals, improvements in signs and road design and looking at the cost of rising insurance premiums.
Joe reported that there were examples of complaints against the DVLA being upheld with the ombudsman awarding compensation.
The broader issue in all of this is the undermining of older people. The Mobility Roadshow (26th to 27th May in Silverstone, Northamptonshire) is focusing on driver technology.
8. Mobility Roadshow & DfT Accessibility Plan and Strategy
The DfT Accessibility and Sustainability Division are in the process of producing a new Accessibility Action Plan. They are holding a meeting to discuss their plan during the Mobility Roadshow. Roger is speaking to the group and will suggest performance indicators that can be included in the strategy.
9. Integrated Transport in Nottinghamshire and the Guided Bus Route from Leigh-Manchester
John Kerry brought the Group up to date with the Nottinghamshire CC project that is part of the Total Transport Pilot Project which was discussed at the meeting in February. This includes real time integration displays, mentoring and services to hospital appointments. Nottinghamshire County Council is also carrying out feasibility studies in rural areas to consider linking up transport routes.
John provided a useful insight into the Guided Bus Route in Greater Manchester which cost £68M opposed to the £250M spent on the Nottinghamshire tram system. There are similar bus routes in Cambridgeshire and Luton.
10. Future of the Group
The future was discussed in relation to the loss of funding for 3 members of the Group who would not be funded to attend the meetings after the end of September.
John Welham explained that following the announcement that there was to be no further funding for the 9 Regional Forums some transition funding had been provided to enable a new structure to be put in place. A new National Age Network: Voices of the experts has been established. Bill Ions requested that Roger formally ask DWP whether a small pot of funding could be provided to cover travel costs to the Transport Working Group meetings. Roger agreed to do this but made clear to the Group that he thought a positive outcome was unlikely.
11. Action Points
1. Roger will send Chris Cornwell’s paper Insurance on Mobility scooters to DWP for uploading when he has reviewed it.
2. John Kerry will send higher resolution photographs to Roger in order to complete John’s paper on waiting facilities.
3. Rachel Lee will let Deborah know when the Living Streets research report is available for circulation.
4. Deborah will circulate a link to the FSB research when it is released later on 25 May.
5. Roger will report back on the DfT Accessibility Action Plan and on any progress with the recommendations from the ILC Report.
7. Date of Next Meeting: To be confirmed – possibly late September
5