Transport & social inclusion : have we made the connections in our cities ?

This report provides an evaluation of progress on using transport to promote social inclusion, seven years on from publication of the influential 'Making the Connections'report on this subject by the Social Exclusion Unit(SEU). Promoting equality of opportunity now forms one of the Department for Transport's (DfT) five objectives for transport, but the DfT lacks an overarching plan for how this might be achieved - this report could offer afoundation for such a plan. For DfT, a public transport network that promotes social inclusion is one that is available, accessible, affordable andacceptable. This report considers the achievements, challenges and ways forward in each of these areas. Groups of people at particular risk of exclusion include those without a car, those on low incomes, people living in isolated housing estates and in deprived areas, disabled people, old people, children and young people, and those living in remote rural areas. Interventions to improve social inclusion can help several of these groups simultaneously. Improvements in demand responsive transport, such as flexiblyrouted bus services, are described. Brokerage schemes can bring together transport services and vehicles only otherwise used for part of the day. Akey issue is ensuring that people have information on the public transport services available to them. The role of Passenger Transport Executives in improving social inclusion is described. The access for all scheme is described. Considerable progress has been made in the form of the National Concessionary Travel scheme which means that older and disabled people can travel off-peak for free. However, for other groups, particularly low income families, spiralling bus fares are undermining efforts to promote social inclusion. Child fares are seen as a particular problem. Smart ticketingsystems are seen as an effective way of ensuring low income travellers pay lower fares. Key recommendations for improving the acceptability of public transport include ensuring new powers under the Local Transport Act arefully utilised to secure further improvements to service quality and continuing to monitor and address the safety concerns of passengers.