The Role of Transport in Social Exclusion in Urban Scotland
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CRU CRU CRU CRU CRUCRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU THE ROLE OF CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU TRANSPORT IN CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU SOCIAL CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU EXCLUSION IN CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU URBAN SCOTLAND CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU Julian Hine and Fiona Mitchell CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU Scottish Executive Central Research Unit CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU 2001 CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU CRU Further copies of this report are available priced £5.00. Cheques should be made payable to The Stationery Office and addressed to: The Stationery Office 71 Lothian Road Edinburgh EH3 9AZ Order line and General Enquiries 0870 606 5566 The views expressed in this report are those of the researchers and do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers. © Crown Copyright 2001 Limited extracts from the text may be produced provided the source is acknowledged. For more extensive reproduction, please write to the Chief Research Officer at the Central Research Unit, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XA. CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Background 1 Main Findings 1 Scope and Objectives of the Study 2 Methodology 2 Study Findings 3 Recommendations 5 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 8 Introduction 8 Scope and Objectives of the Study 8 Methodology 8 Structure of Report 10 CHAPTER TWO OVERVIEW 11 Introduction 11 Literature Review 11 Focus Groups and In-depth Interviews 21 Key Findings 30 Overview 31 CHAPTER THREE CASE STUDY AREAS 34 Introduction 34 Public Transport Provision 34 Social Exclusion and Local Transport Strategies 42 CHAPTER FOUR HOUSEHOLD SURVEY 47 Introduction 47 Characteristics of the Sample 47 Household Description 48 Health and Mobility 49 Employment, Education and Training 51 Income 54 Housing 58 Household Goods 60 Neighbourhood 62 Car Access 64 Activity and Travel 68 Conclusions 89 CHAPTER FIVE TRAVEL DIARY STUDY 93 Introduction 93 Nature of Travel 93 Problems Encountered 96 Missed Opportunities 100 Key Findings 103 CHAPTER SIX ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK, EXCLUSION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS 104 Introduction 104 Harbour, Leith 104 Castlemilk 111 Kirkshaws and Old Monkland, Coatbridge 115 Conclusions - The Development of Potential Solutions 119 CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 124 Introduction 124 Transport Related Dimensions of Social Exclusion 124 Key Findings 125 Recommendation 128 REFERENCES 134 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE ROLE OF TRANSPORT IN SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN URBAN SCOTLAND BACKGROUND 1.1 Social exclusion reflects the existence of barriers which make it difficult or impossible for people to participate fully in society (Social Exclusion Unit, 1998). Previous work had indicated a paucity of data on the link between transport and social exclusion, and that as a consequence the nature of this relationship had not been fully appreciated. In October 1999, the Transport Research Institute was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to explore the links between social exclusion and transport in urban Scotland. The overall purpose of the research was to provide a better understanding of the role that transport plays in social exclusion in urban Scotland, in order to identify appropriate strategies to improve accessibility to key destinations and to improve the quality of life for groups currently experiencing social exclusion. MAIN FINDINGS 1.2 This research, which provides new empirical evidence based on detailed surveys in 3 urban areas of Scotland, found that: ° Women, the unemployed, elderly, people with health problems and those in low income groups are more likely to experience transport related social exclusion. ° Excluded groups are heavily reliant on walking, public transport and rely on lifts from family, friends and neighbours. ° Lower income groups (gross household incomes below £100-£149 per week) spend more on fares for public transport than those in higher income groups. ° Regular car access is strongly associated with a higher income level (gross household incomes above £100-£149 per week), home ownership (homes owned outright or being purchased with the help of a loan or mortgage) and (lower levels of public transport use). ° Reliance on lifts and irregular car access is responsible for an increase in average journey times to reach local facilities. ° The elderly and people with health problems were more likely to find it difficult to use buses, taxis and walk for at least 10 minutes. ° Two-thirds of respondents stated that the local bus service stop was less than 3 minutes walk away, although service frequencies were perceived to decline noticeably in the evenings and on Sundays. ° Strong local support networks were evidenced by a significant proportion (over 60%) stating that they could rely on friends and family in a variety of situations. ° Over 90% of people stated that they like living in their neighbourhood but those expressing a preference to move did so because of a poor local environment and desire to improve housing circumstances. A smaller proportion (5%) stated they would move to improve transport links and accessibility. ° Reduced fares and budget ticketing were used by relatively low numbers of people. ° High levels of awareness of community transport schemes but low levels of use was recorded in each area. 1 SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1.3 The specific aims of the study were to: ° review existing empirical research on the contribution of transport to social exclusion ° examine the differential effects of transport 'disadvantage' on different groups in the population ° collect primary evidence on the nature of transport disadvantage in urban areas and to investigate its effects on exclusion ° identify and assess the available options for addressing the transport needs of socially excluded groups. METHODOLOGY Stage One: Review 1.4 The purpose of the first stage of the project was to establish the parameters of the study and was essentially qualitative in nature. The two components of this stage were: (1) a literature review which identified the main parameters of exclusion affected by transport and included a review of transport initiatives designed specifically to address issues of social exclusion; and (2) a series of 4 focus groups and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted with local residents of four urban locations within the Central Belt. These were used to identify the influence of (poor) transport in contributing to social exclusion in each of the selected areas. They also aimed to explore, as far as was possible, the problems experienced by different potentially disadvantaged groups such as those on low income, the long term unemployed, the elderly or young, women and single parents. 1.5 The purpose of the fieldwork was to identify key issues and to assist in the drafting of survey instruments to be used in the second stage. The data collected at this stage also assisted in the selection of three case studies for the second stage of the research. Stage Two: Case Studies 1.6 The second stage of the research constituted the core of the research project and focused on three case study areas which were located in Leith (Edinburgh), Castlemilk (Glasgow) and Coatbridge (North Lanarkshire). The three areas were selected on the basis of their transport links and the levels of transport deprivation. The case study of each area involved three distinct stages which together aimed to address the objectives defined at the outset of the project. The three components were: (1) a household survey which provided data on 552 households. The data was then used to quantitatively examine context-specific relationships, the experiences of different groups (in a local area context) and explore the nature of transport disadvantage in the different areas. 2 (2) a Travel Diary study where 19 diaries were completed. The diary formed the basis for an in-depth interview schedule. The purpose of the travel diary study was to elicit information on people’s experience of barriers to travel.