Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Location - Outer suburbs, Location - Urban fringe, Social Issues - Low Income, Transport policy - Social disadvantage, Transport policy - Transport disadvantage, Transport policy - Transport poverty

Abstract

The lack of effective public transport services has been seen as a major problem for socially disadvantaged people living on the fringe of Australian cities. In the UK, a number of research studies have suggested that car ownership is 'forced' upon socially disadvantaged people where no alternative transport exists. This paper summarises the results of a research project examining transport disadvantage in metropolitan Melbourne. The aim of this research is to explore the concept of "forced" car ownership as it might apply to urban Melbourne. This paper explores the relationship between income, location, car ownership, accessability and public transport supply. It also explores related expenditure and income and the travel behaviours of the low income residents who have zero cars and those who might be considered to have 'forced' car ownership.