Spatial accessibility of public transport in Australian cities: Does it relieve or entrench social and economic inequality?
Jan Scheurer
Curtin University RMIT University
Carey Curtis
Curtin University
Sam McLeod
Curtin University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2017.1097
Keywords: Public transport accessibility, socio-economic advantage and disadvantage
Abstract
City planning in Australian cities has seen a gradual shift in approach, away from planning to facilitate mobility by car in the post-war period toward planning for land-use/public transport integration. By assessing the supply of public transport for city accessibility, a considerable variation within each city can be seen. Of interest is the extent to which there is a relationship between the quality of public transport accessibility and the spatial distribution of socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage. This paper examines this issue by mapping spatial data on socioeconomic disadvantage and advantage against indicators of public transport accessibility. The findings show that Australian cities are characterized by a significant level of spatially manifested socioeconomic inequality exacerbated by transport disadvantage. It is argued that a coincidence of public transport infrastructure and service improvements as well as urban intensification and housing affordability policies are required to counteract these trends.Author Biographies
Jan Scheurer, Curtin University RMIT University
Senior Research FellowCarey Curtis, Curtin University
ProfessorReferences
Currie, G. (2010). Quantifying spatial gaps in public transport supply based on social needs. Journal of Transport Geography, 18, 31–41.
Currie, G., Richardson, T., Smyth, P., Vella-Brodrick, D., Hine, J., Lucas, K., Stanley, J., Morris, J., Kinnear, R., & Stanley, J. (2009.) Investigating links between transport disadvantage, social exclusion and wellbeing in Melbourne — preliminary results. Transport Policy, 16(3), 97–105.
Currie, G., Richardson, T., Smyth, P., Vella-Brodrick, D., Hine, J., Lucas, K., Stanley, J., Morris, J., Kinnear, R., & Stanley, J. (2010). Investigating links between transport disadvantage, social exclusion and wellbeing in Melbourne—updated results. Research in Transportation Economics, 29(1), 287–295.
Curtis, C. (2015). Public transport orientated development and network effects, Chapter 9. In R. Hickman, M. Givoni, D. Bonilla, & D. Banister (Eds), An international handbook on transport and development. Cheltenham. UK: Edward Elgar.
Curtis, C., & Scheurer, J. (2016). Planning for public transport accessibility. An international sourcebook. Oxon, UK: Routledge.
De Vos, J., Schwanen, T., Van Acker, V., & Witlox, F. (2013). Travel and subjective wellbeing: A focus on findings, methods and future research needs. Transport Reviews, 33(4), 421–442.
Delbosc, A., & Currie, G. (2011). The spatial context of transport disadvantage, social exclusion and wellbeing. Journal of Transport Geography, 19, 1130–1137.
Dodson, J. (2007) Transport disadvantage and Australian urban planning in historical perspective. The role of urban form and structure in shaping household accessibility, Chapter 1. In G. Currie, J. Stanley, and J. Stanley (Eds), No way to go. Transport and social disadvantage in Australian communities. Clayton, Victoria: Monash University ePress.
Dodson, J., & Sipe, N. (2008). Shocking the suburbs. Oil vulnerability in the Australian city. Sydney, NSW: UNSW Press.
Florida, R. (2017) The new urban crisis: How our cities are increasing inequality, deepening segregation, and failing the middle class– and what we can do about it. New York: Basic Books.
Goodman, R., & Coote, M. (2007). Sustainable urban form and the shopping center: An investigation of activity centers in Melbourne’s growth areas. Urban Policy and Research, 25(1), 39-61.
Kaufmann, V. (2011). Rethinking the city: Urban dynamics and motility. Lausanne, Switzerland: EPFL Press.
Loader, C. (2013) Visualizing the changing socioeconomic landscape of Melbourne. Charting Transport [web log]. Retrieved from www.chartingtransport.com/2013/09/29/visualising-the-changing-socio-economic-landscape-of-melbourne/
Martel, A., Whitzman, C., Fincher, R., Lawther, P., Woodcock, I., & Tucker, D. (2013). Getting to yes: Overcoming barriers to affordable family friendly housing in inner Melbourne. Sixth state of Australian Cities Conference (SOAC), Sydney, November 2013.
Newman, P., & Kenworthy, J. (2015). The end of automobile dependence: How cities are moving beyond car-based planning. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Pink, B. (2013). Socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), 2011. Retrieved from Australian Bureau for Statistics website: www.abs.gov.au
Scheurer, J., Curtis, C., & McLeod, S. (2016). Making Melbourne’s public transport network multi-directional: Can the associated accessibility boost mobilize latent potential for ridership and city-building? 38th Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), Melbourne, November 2016.
SGS Economics and Planning. (2015). Effective job density: Comparing our cities and regions. Retrieved from SGS Economics and Planning website: www.sgsep.com.au/publications/effective-job-density-comparing-our-cities-and-regions
Smyth, P. (2007). Transport: A new frontier for social policy? An historical reflection. Chapter 2. In G. Currie, J. Stanley, & J. Stanley (Eds), No way to go: Transport and social disadvantage in Australian communities. Clayton, Victoria: Monash University ePress.
Stanley, J., & Lucas, K. (2008). Social exclusion: What can public transport offer? Research in Transportation Economics, 22(1), 36-40.
