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Walking SA and the Heart Foundation welcome the opportunity to provide a shared submission to the  Government of South Australia’s consultation on developing South Australia’s Public Transport Strategy (PT Strategy).  

We collectively believe the PT Strategy is an important opportunity to align transport investment with outcomes in public health, equity, climate resilience, and liveability. Our submission outlines how public  and active transport can be mutually reinforced and how strengthening both is essential to a successful,  sustainable and healthier South Australia. 

About Walking SA and the Heart Foundation

Walking SA’s vision is for a world-class, walkable South Australia, where cities and communities are  designed to encourage more people to walk more often. The Heart Foundation’s Health for Every Heart 25-year vision is that heart health will be achievable by everyone in Australia by 2050. Key to achieving  these goals is to create environments and systems that enable and empower healthy behaviours. The  Heart Foundation advocates for more walkable urban areas and local neighbourhoods across the country,  for both transport and recreation purposes to support people increasing their levels of physical activity. 

Both Walking SA and the Heart Foundation support Preventive Health SA’s South Australian Walking  Strategy 2022-2032, which shares the vision of more people walking more often; all ages; all abilities. 

As outlined in the SA Walking Strategy (and referenced below), we hope that the PT Strategy has a strong  emphasis on integrating walking and cycling connections to make public transport more accessible and  appealing. 

“Most South Australians access public transport by walking, and therefore bus, train and tram  stops need to connect to high-quality walking routes and environments. This will enable better  access to employment, education, health services and cultural and sport facilities regardless of car  ownership. More people choose to walk when everyday destinations are connected, and this  needs to be reflected in planning.  

Walking networks that incorporate shade, that are safe and have convenient road crossings and  direct paths to stops and stations will encourage more people to catch public transport.” (Page 12) 

Why public transport is important to us

Walking and public transport are mutually supportive and work together to create healthy, active, and  connected communities. Most public transport journeys begin and end with a walk, making walkability  essential to a transport system that works for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. 

To create places where people can live, work and thrive, we need both walkable environments and  reliable, accessible public transport. Walking is not just a ‘nice to have’, it’s a vital part of every transport chain. It links people to services, opportunities, and social connection, supporting both physical and mental  wellbeing. 

Public transport extends the reach of walking, enabling people to travel further while remaining physically  active. Together, walking and public transport create more equitable access to daily destinations,  especially for those without access to private vehicles. 

When we invest in walkable neighbourhoods and effective public transport networks, we are investing in  better health, lower emissions, less congestion and more liveable communities. 

Walking to and from public transport not only supports healthier lifestyles but also reduces the burden on  the SA Government’s health budget. The NSW Government’s Active Transport Health Model found that  every kilometre walked to/from public transport provided $4.88 in economic health benefits to the State.¹  This does not include other economic benefits such as reduced pollution, traffic congestion, parking infrastructure costs and climate impact. 

There is strong evidence that a good public transport system promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging  people to walk. Studies have found a positive relationship between the presence and density of public  transport stops and walking across all ages. ^2,3,4 Research shows that: 

• those living closer to bus stops and train stations on a comprehensively networked and frequent  public transport service have reduced risk of overweight, obesity and the associated non communicable diseases including heart disease.⁵ Adults living in areas with a higher density of  public transport stops were more likely to walk; be physically active (particularly moderate to  vigorous); and engage in active travel. Older adults in these areas were also found to engage in  more walking, bike riding and wheeling. ⁶

Public transport also helps to connect people regardless of car ownership and can help to support social  connections.⁷ Loneliness in older adults increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia and early  death.⁸

Recommendations

Noting that this stage of the consultation is focused on ideas generation for the PT Strategy, Walking SA  and the Heart Foundation put forward the following seven recommendations for the Department of  Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) to consider in the development of the strategy.

1. Significantly increase investment in a high-quality public transport network

To support sustainable and inclusive growth, Adelaide requires a public transport system that is user friendly, fast, affordable, and reliable and one that is seamlessly integrated into the planning and design of  all new or upgraded road projects and major developments.  

South Australia still has a considerable journey ahead to realise this vision. Too often, road and  intersection upgrades are focused solely on improving traffic flow, and even along designated public  transport routes, provisions to prioritise frequent and accessible buses are overlooked. 

From an infrastructure perspective, we support the investigation and planning of an underground city rail  loop as a transformative long-term project as recommended in South Australia’s 20-year State  Infrastructure Strategy. This would increase network efficiency, unlock high-density development potential  along the rail corridors and associated stations, and deliver much-needed capacity and resilience to  Adelaide’s public transport network. 

Further, there is in principle support for the Inner Metropolitan Public Transport Network vision developed  by the Transport Action Network (TAN). This includes the proposed ADL Metro Tunnel connecting north south rail lines through the Adelaide CBD, tram network extensions consistent with the 2016 AdeLink  study, rapid bus priority lanes on key strategic corridors, and the development of a rapid orbital route. More  details on this can be found on the following video and document prepared by TAN. 

— Inner Metropolitan Public Transport Network 

— 2024-10-03-Inner-Metropolitan-Public-Transport-Network.pdf 

We hope to see a similarly ambitious and forward-looking vision reflected in DIT’s long-awaited PT  Strategy.

2. Make public transport more affordable to more people

We support the call for 50 cent fares for all users, following the Queensland Government’s subsidies for  public transport users. This is a bold and effective way to increase public transport ridership, address cost  of living pressures, and reduce transport disadvantage. 

We also commend the SA Government for their recent $10 Student MetroCARD 28-day pass initiative that  improves affordability for young people and families. 

More affordable public transport for all age groups would go a long way to: 

• enhance equity and reduce household transport costs
• support independent mobility for children, adolescents, and older people
• encourage lifelong public transport and associated walking habits
• reduce congestion from school drop-offs.

3. Improve walking and bike riding access to public transport

We encourage DIT to proactively identify and pursue opportunities to partner with local government on  initiatives that improve walking and cycling access to public transport. These initiatives should include the  provision of: 

• safe, continuous footpaths and high-quality bicycle facilities.
• clear and consistent wayfinding signage.
• safe and convenient road crossing points.
• infrastructure such as seating, shelter, tree canopy, and lighting at stops and stations.

In addition, we encourage DIT to go beyond simply ensuring that bus stops meet accessibility standards. It  is essential that safe crossing points are provided on all main roads with bus stops. The lack of safe crossing options often acts as a significant barrier to accessing public transport services, especially  disadvantaging children and older adults. 

Designing public transport stops and stations to include green space, seating, and community areas can  significantly enhance the urban environment. These features not only encourage walking and social  interaction, which both support improved heart health, but also help create welcoming, shaded and  comfortable spaces. In the context of climate change, tree canopies, shelter and green infrastructure are  especially important for providing relief on hotter and inclement weather days, making public transport  more accessible and appealing year-round.

4. Improve integration with the SA Walking Strategy and urban design for health

As highlighted in the SA Walking Strategy, most people access public transport by walking. Therefore, it is  essential that transit stops are connected to high-quality walking environments that are also accessible for  people with disability requiring use of mobility aids. This connection significantly enhances access to  employment, healthcare, education, and recreational opportunities, regardless of car ownership. 

We recommend that this strategy be aligned with the SA Walking Strategy, local active transport plans, and  the state’s forthcoming cycling strategy. 

In addition, we advocate for the integration of dense, mixed-use development and healthy food retail  adjacent or near key interchanges and train stations. When these spaces are designed with active street  frontages and access to healthy food, they not only support local economic activity but also improve health,  safety, accessibility, and the overall walkability of the surrounding area whilst encouraging people to use  public transport. 

Planning to future-proof the public transport network while also responding to the climate emergency  should be a core component of the PT Strategy. We recommend the following be considered as part of its  development: 

• electrifying or implementing other low-emission bus fleets, especially in dense urban corridors  where exposure to air pollution has significant public health impacts
• designing climate-adapted stops with shade and access to fresh drinking water
• incorporating green infrastructure around key stations, stops and interchanges to reduce heat  stress, improve comfort, support biodiversity and contribute to the target of 30% urban tree canopy  across (Urban Greening Strategy for Metropolitan Adelaide)

5. Measurable targets

To ensure accountability and impact, the PT Strategy should include clear performance targets. These  should cover, but not be limited to: 

• mode shift to public and active transport
• access to frequent services (at least every 10 to 15 minutes)
• reduction in transport-related emissions
• improvements in accessibility for disadvantaged communities.

Clear targets will drive outcomes aligned with the South Australian Government’s broader ambitions on  health, liveability, and climate resilience. 

Conclusion

Public transport is a public health intervention. A robust, affordable, and integrated public transport system,  supported by walkable neighbourhoods and active transport infrastructure, can help address chronic  disease, social isolation, transport disadvantage, and climate vulnerability.

Walking SA and the Heart Foundation strongly encourage a strategy that is focused on people,  accessibility, inclusion, and community wellbeing. We encourage the SA State Government to take this  opportunity to collaborate across sectors to transform how South Australians move and live, now and into  the future. 

Yours Sincerely 

Daniel Bennett, FRLA
Walking SA Chair

Claire Gardner
General Manager SA
Heart Foundation

Footnotes

1. NSW Health, NSW Active Transport Health Model Reference Outcome Values, User Guide vol.1, https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/urbanhealth/Publications/active-transport-model-guide.pdf
2. Timperio, A., et al., Personal, family, social, and environmental correlates of active commuting to school. Am J Prev Med, 2006. 30(1): p. 45-51.
3. McCormack, G.R., B. Giles-Corti, and M. Bulsara, The relationship between destination proximity, destination mix and physical activity behaviors. Prev Med, 2008. 46(1): p. 33-40.
4. Besser, L.M. and A.L. Dannenberg, Walking to public transit: steps to help meet physical activity recommendations. Am J Prev Med, 2005. 29(4): p. 273-280.
5. Sallis J, Cerin E, Kerr J, et al. Built Environment, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Findings from the International Physical Activity and Environment Network (IPEN) Adult Study. Annual Review of Public Health. 2020;41:119-139, and Giles-Corti B, Hooper P, Foster S, Koohsari MJ, Francis J. Evidence review Low density development: Impacts on physical activity and associated health outcomes. September 2014 2014.
6. Cerin E, Nathan A, van Cauwenberg J, Barnett DW, Barnett A. The neighbourhood physical environment and active travel in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):15, and Zapata-Diomedi B, Veerman JL. The association between built environment features and physical activity in the Australian context: a synthesis of the literature. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:484. See also Sallis, Cerin, Kerr et al, above.
7. Currie, G., et al., Investigating links between transport disadvantage, social exclusion and well-being in Melbourne—Preliminary results. Transp Policy (Oxf), 2009. 16(3): p. 97-105.
8. Donovan NJ, Blazer D. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Review and Commentary of a National Academies Report. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2020 Dec;28(12):1233-1244