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Chapter 11: Sub-Group Summary
The main body of this report has focussed upon the overarching comments made by respondents during the course of this research. As noted, most groups tended to have relatively similar points of view, with any different opinions being based primarily on their overall experiences of using transport or their attitudes towards certain key issues such as the importance of the environment or whether car drivers should be actively penalised.
The summary paragraphs below highlight key issues identified by each group included in this research. No comments are included from the general public group as the general views of the public and commonalities across each individual group make up the majority of the report. Comments from those with learning difficulties have been separated from those with sensory or mobility impairment.
It is worth noting that groups did not always tend to explicitly see their points or issues as being, for example, "low income" or "female" issues and most respondents did not naturally fall within one group or another but fell into more than one group. Some groups did see that there were certain viewpoints that did arise from their particular status, although these were often re-phrased as being general issues that everyone should be concerned about:
"My needs are no different from anyone else's. My sexuality has got nothing to do with it."
LGBT, urban
Younger people
- Car use seen as aspirational, despite some concerns over use of cars and desire for more widespread public transport usage.
- Some concerns over attitudes towards the young on public transport, with some public transport staff perceived to be rude towards young people and some calls for customer service training for public transport staff.
Young people were similar to other respondents in generally not having a strategic view of transport issues. However, despite their age they had definite positions on a range of issues. Although many recognised the need for environmental considerations to be taken into account within the Strategy, most young respondents had a personal desire to own a car, with this being seen as allowing them freedom and as a symbol of adulthood.
However, despite the desire for personal car ownership, most young people clearly saw a need for increased public transport usage. Issues in terms of actual usage of public transport were similar to those for other participants, with cost, frequency etc being key considerations. Similarly to certain other groups there was a concern over the attitude of some drivers, with some seen as generally disrespectful and rude.
Older people
- Buses are the main form of transport for many and, as a result, the main concern for the transport strategy.
- Concern that public transport had not improved in recent years.
- Re-regulation and nationalisation of bus service desired by some.
- Return of conductors and more personalised care (particular concern about training of bus drivers) an important issue.
- Concern over access to hospitals, in particular by bus. Also concerns over the cost of parking at hospital by those who drive.
The views of older respondents were often based upon their earlier experiences of transport, with many outlooks reflecting the view that transport in general (and public transport in particular) was of a higher quality when they were young.
Most older people relied heavily on the bus, primarily due to being entitled to free travel on buses as part of the concessionary fare scheme, although many felt there was a lack of other transport options. As such, most of their concerns focused on bus travel. Many felt that re-regulation or nationalisation of buses would lead to a better service on less profitable routes, with the old nationalised bus services seen as preferable to those currently in place. Although all respondents tended to favour the return of bus conductors in some form, their previous experience of conductors on buses led older respondents to be particularly enthusiastic about their introduction. In addition, customer service training for drivers was seen as a priority. Occasionally the lack of training was linked to recruitment difficulties and low pay for drivers. Accessing and cost of transport to important social services was also queried.
Women
- Mothers of young children valued the role of education in terms of changing transport behaviour for them and their children.
- Need for buses to have increased number of spaces for prams (and wheelchairs).
- Need for all buses to have easy access for pram users.
- Cost was a concern for some, particularly those transporting more than one child.
The views of women were often linked into their experiences of having children or of sympathising with transport difficulties of other women with children. This was expressed in two different ways:
Firstly, there was the stated difficulty of travelling by public transport with children. This was both in terms of the physical difficulty ( e.g. lack of space in buses) and the resultant cost implications of multiple travellers using public transport. Some mothers wished to travel by public transport but found the cost meant it was cheaper to travel by car, despite their personal desire to increase public transport usage. For most, it was felt to be more convenient to use a car, and some living in more rural areas noted a lack of available public transport.
Secondly, many mothers felt that their children had influenced their behaviour, primarily in increased "green" behaviour such as recycling. As a result, the potential role of education in highlighting to children the importance of using public transport was stressed, with this seen as both influencing the travel habits of children and their parents.
Low income
- Widespread concern over access to, and availability of, public transport due to dependency on this mode of transport.
- Cost of public transport a key issue, with this seen as particularly relevant for those in rural areas, where costs were seen as higher and wages lower, and for those with larger families.
As would be expected, the primary issue for individuals on low income was cost of public transport, with prices of basic public transport being queried. Issues of frequency and availability were raised, although these were more often tied into issues of rurality rather than income. .
LGBT
- Safety in using public transport an issue.
LGBT respondents were one of the most likely groups of interviewees to feel that there were few particular transport needs relating to their categorisation. When asked for issues of relevance to the LGBT community, many spontaneously felt that there were no real issues and only raised concerns over safety and training after more detailed consideration. However, this does not necessarily mean that these issues were considered to be exclusive. Some interviewees felt that while safety and training were key transport issues that LGBT people would raise, they were primarily issues for the general population as well.
Visible Ethnic Minority
- Need for information to be available in a range of languages, particularly for older, first-generation immigrants.
While visible ethnic minorities raised a number of important transport issues, only the concern over provision of information in a range of languages related primarily to their ethnicity. To a slightly greater extent than with other respondents, some issues raised by visible ethnic minority respondents related to their previous transport experiences in other countries ( e.g. having travelled regularly by tram).
Urban
- General assumption that public transport in urban areas is better than in rural areas.
- Frequent comparisons to better cost, regularity, frequency of services experienced in urban centres outwith Scotland.
- Cost, regularity and frequency of bus travel a key issue.
Some urban respondents tended to rely more on public transport than private transport and felt that the quality of public transport they experienced was probably greater than in rural areas in terms of cost, regularity and frequency. There was a concern over the quality of transport in rural areas, primarily either because it was felt only to be fair that transport should be of a good quality in rural areas or because individuals might need to travel to rural Scotland themselves.
Despite perceptions that the cost, regularity and frequency of travel was better in urban areas than rural areas, these issues were all still raised as being in need of improvement in urban areas. Many respondents compared the quality of transport in urban Scotland to that experienced in other main cities in Europe, for example the perceived success of tram systems elsewhere. There tended to be an assumption that their experience of public transport elsewhere was different to that which they experienced in Scotland and that systems used elsewhere could work just as well here.
Rural
- Widespread perception that rural areas are not given the attention they deserve in terms of transport, with urban public transport seen as of a much higher standard.
- The importance of ensuring public transport that will enable individuals to access amenities, the workplace and for tourists to visit outlying rural areas was stressed.
- Public transport to urban areas where respondents worked (or went for leisure) was often seen as too expensive and not available at suitable times.
As many rural respondents felt their transport needs had been overlooked in the past they tended to be less positive regarding the potential of the NTS to lead to widespread transport improvements that would benefit them.
Due to the relatively dispersed nature of amenities, services and work, transport played a key role for some rural respondents. Frequency of service was important to many, with the lack of some services effectively inhibiting access to jobs and /or leisure / social activities in nearby areas. Cost was another major issue, with many individuals feeling that they were doubly penalised by living in rural areas as not only were wages lower, but transport costs were higher (with this often having a knock-on effect in higher prices for goods, including fuel).
Disabled (excluding learning difficulties)
- Some disabled respondents felt that disabled individuals needed to be involved in devising the transport strategy from the very start of the process.
- Taxis were an important form of transport for those with wheelchairs, and there was a widespread perception that taxi companies were not suitably geared towards dealing with those in wheelchairs or, on occasion, did not want to.
- The need for improved training for bus drivers in helping and dealing with disabled individuals was a key issue for almost all disabled interviewees.
- Importance of ensuring information is accurately available in both visual and auditory forms to meet needs of both visually and hearing impaired individuals.
A large range of issues were put forward by disabled respondents, some of which did not relate to particular types of disability, for example, the general need for better training and the view expressed by some that disabled individuals needed to be involved in drafting the strategy. In addition, most disabled respondents had a particular concern over personal safety when travelling as many felt in a potentially vulnerable position.
Most issues that were raised, however, related to the needs of those with particular types of disability. In terms of public transport needs, wheelchair users felt that taxi companies were often not able or willing to be responsive to their needs, while visually and auditory impaired respondents focussed on a need to receive information both verbally and visually.
The majority of comments made by disabled individuals reflected the considerable difficulties that many still face in terms of access to a service that met their basic needs. While issues such as cost and frequency were raised, these were understandably felt to be secondary to the need for a service that they can access and use safely for basic journeys.
Learning Difficulties
- Emphasis on the need for very clear timetables, routes and instructions. Fear of making a mistake was paramount and a potential barrier to using public transport. To overcome fear very clear direction and support is needed.
- Individuals with learning difficulties found the world around them quite a scary place. Traffic noise, congestion and heavy traffic were all quoted as being frightening.
- Staff in all forms of public transport sometimes lack understanding. Staff need to appreciate that some customers might take longer to say what they need or to respond to questions. Staff should be trained to have more empathy.
- Concessionary travel was really appreciated.
Some issues raised by individuals with learning difficulties were similar to those from other respondents with disabilities, for example the need for improved staff training on public transport. However, those with learning difficulties tended to be more outwardly positive about the benefits that transport brought them and how it enabled them to experience new opportunities. For this reason concessionary travel was particularly appreciated.
Despite feeling positive about the potential benefits of transport, actually using transport was frequently difficult, confusing and scary. Many issues that other respondents took for granted or did not notice were raised. The noise of traffic, the chaotic nature of transport and congestion were all issues of particular concern. More than any other group, those with learning difficulties suggested the need to take even the most basic issues relating to transport into consideration in the formulation of the National Transport Strategy.
In summary,
The different groups of respondents tended to have relatively similar points of view, with any different opinions being based primarily on their overall experiences of using transport or their attitudes towards certain key issues such as the importance of the environment or whether car drivers could be actively penalised.
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