Public Transportation
We would like to hear from you.
As a member of Inner Melbourne Life Activities I would like to start a conversation on Public Transport and how it impacts on the older community. Because we are based in the city we only use Public Transport to and from our activities.
Recently one of our members in her 80s was on a tram that took off before she could be seated, resulting in her falling backwards. The conductor lifted her up and sat her down on the tram stop seat and took off without an incident report being filled out. She had to call her family and was taken to hospital in an ambulance with spinal injuries. Luckily surgery was not required but a considerable time in Rehabilitation was required. Needless to say that was and will be her last tram trip.
In discussion with other members re this situation it became evident that the suddenness of trams taking off is a major concern to quite a number of people as is the speed at which buses drive without seat belts. One member told me that her Nth Melbourne tram takes off rapidly depending on the next set of traffic lights. Another member told me of their reluctance to use the Airport Shuttle bus due to the same issues of speed and the incorrect storage of luggage.
I feel we need to have some anecdotal evidence of these worrying and dangerous issues so can I ask you within your clubs to discuss this and send me your comments, suggestions and personal stories.
We will then lobby on behalf of all Life Activities Clubs to avoid injury resulting in not being able to use Public Transport thus restricting interaction in the community resulting in ISOLATION and LONELINESS.
We will lobby...
- Council on the Ageing [COTA]
- Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS]
- Luke Donnellan - Minister for
- the Ageing
- Jacinta Allen - Minister for Transport
Please email stories and comments to secretary@life.org.au as well as office@life.org.au
Sue Van Gerrevink, Secretary of Life Activities Clubs Victoria Inc.
