Forty-six per cent of people who responded to a Town survey cannot make certain trips because they have no transport.
Many say they have missed medical appointments in and outside Barrhead.
Asked whether they or members of their household would use accessible public transport, 72 per cent said “yes.”
Nearly 50 per cent of those surveyed called for a service funded by a tax-subsidized user fee.
Meanwhile, a County questionnaire showed less enthusiasm for a service.
Thirty-one respondents, or 38 per cent, said they would use accessible public transport if available.
In both municipalities, bus trips to and from Edmonton would be the most common trip.
The surveys were compiled by the Barrhead Transportation Task Force, which is made up of citizens who believe keeping people mobile is a quality of life issue.
Last Wednesday, the survey results were released. There were 324 responses to the Town questionnaire, 84 to the County one.
One hundred and twenty-three Town respondents, or 37 per cent, were aged 79 and over, while 81 (24 per cent) were in the 70-79 demographic and 49 (15 per cent) were 60-69. Just eight people aged 20-29 responded.
The County trend was different. Thirty-two respondents, or 35 per cent, were aged 50 to 59, by far the biggest category. Next came 60 to 69-year-olds: 20 (22 per cent).
Only six people aged 79 and over replied. Eighteen respondents were 70-79.
Task force chair Oleskiw and vice chair Ralph Helder, who is executive director of Blue Heron Support Services, were pleased with the number of responses. Typically, the response rate to surveys is very low.
“The next step is to meet with the Town and County,” said Oleskiw.
Helder said he had not had time to analyze the data in depth.
Survey findings for Town and County were being sent to both municipalities, enabling them to carry out comparisons.
It appeared, said Helder, that residents’ needs in the two areas were different.
One possible explanation was the tendency for seniors to move from the County to the Town to access facilities more easily.
“We would like at some point to make presentations to both councils, so we can discuss the surveys,” said Helder.
According to the Town survey, 144 people – 46 per cent – say they or members of their family cannot make trips because of a lack of transport.
Medical appointments make up many trips: in Barrhead, 109 (20 per cent); outside Barrhead, 102 (19 per cent).
In the last six months, 48 respondents, or 15 per cent, said they have missed a medical appointment outside town because of a lack of transport.
Two hundred and twenty people – 72 per cent – said they would use accessible public transport.
Bus was by far the most popular mode of transport, followed by taxi. The idea of a blended scheduled and call ahead service won most votes.
Asked how a service should be funded, 142 people backed a user fee subsidized by a form of taxation.
How much were they prepared to pay for a one-way trip within the Town of Barrhead?
Ninety-four said $4, while 79 argued for $2, 76 plumped for $6 and 17 saw no problem with $8. Just eight were comfortable with paying $10. Eighty-eight placed themselves in an “other” category.
In the County, 11 people said there were trips they could not make through lack of transport. Over the last six months, four had missed medical appointments in Barrhead.
Forty-six people, or 56 per cent, backed a user fee system, while 33 (55 per cent) were willing to pay $10 plus 54 cents per kilometre for a one-way trip from the County to the Town.
They were less ready to pay the same rate for trips within the County or from the Town to the County.
