Using transport planning to tackle social exclusion

Using Transport Planning to Tackle Social Exclusion: Problems with travel are a barrier to participation in everyday activities, and meeting basic needs resulting in social exclusion. Barriers include lack of access to a car due to income or disability, sparse public transport networks and poor service levels, dispersed land-use patterns and combinations of problems. In the UK, a quarter of households do not have a car. Whilst percentages vary, this is true almost world wide. In the UK, Accessibility Planning procedures were introduced to ensure access for all to goods, services, and activities that affect life opportunities. Since the introduction of Accessibility Planning, the authors have undertaken or advised on studies into the nature of accessibility problems. This paper reports conclusions from these studies taking a national and regional perspective, and focusing on specific local studies relating to healthcare, a healthy diet, education, young and older peoples’ accessibility. Access to healthcare work revealed a third of patients travelling to their doctors could not use a car, which correlated with missed appointments. Health outcomes are also affected by access to a healthy diet and those without a car tend to shop in convenience stores with a limited range. Those missing doctors appointments may be the same individuals with poor access to a healthy diet, creating a vicious circle. Poor health may then affect educational attainment and employment opportunities. Drawing together the results from these studies, allows the authors to take an over view of the way in which Accessibility Planning is working, and its effectiveness. In drawing conclusions, the paper seeks to discuss and make recommendations regarding linkages between accessibility issues and ways in which Accessibility Planning might be further enhanced.