Rural Accessibility
Overview
Background & policy context:
Rural accessibility depends upon the location of services and facilities and the travel options available for each group in society to reach these locations. Previous research has separately considered:
- the accessibility needs of rural dwellers;
- the transport policy interventions to overcome problems; and
- alternative accessibility measuring techniques.
This research was commissioned to build on these three strands of work and strengthen the evidence base for policies that seek to address the identified problems of rural accessibility.
Objectives:
- To assess the extent of transport based social exclusion in selected rural areas;
- To review existing evidence on the role of transport in social exclusion in rural Scotland;
- To review innovation in rural transport and its role in addressing transport disadvantage;
- To review current methods for identifying the extent of transport related social exclusion in rural Scotland;
- To investigate current and potential use of accessibility indicators or measurement techniques in the rural context;
- To utilise relevant accessibility indicators and measurement techniques to assess the transport options and destination opportunities available to a representative sample of rural dwellers;
- To recommend appropriate accessibility indicators or measurement techniques for use in future policy development, monitoring and evaluation.
Methodology:
Surveys were undertaken in five areas of Scotland, using a postal survey of 725 residents to establish travel patterns; a telephone survey of 250 residents to define perceptions of accessibility; and five focus groups to examine options to improve accessibility. Local authorities and key transport operators were also interviewed to establish current policies and concerns about rural accessibility. The five study areas were:
- West Aberdeenshire - Relatively affluent mixed commuter and agricultural characteristics;
- East Ayrshire - Agricultural and declining industrial area;
- Central Caithness and Sutherland - Remote mainland;
- East Lothian - Relatively affluent commuter area;
- Wigtownshire - Deep rural and agricultural area.
Using data on services and facilities from the Scottish Executive Geographical Information Systems (SEGIS), published public transport timetable information, and road network information, accessibility levels were calibrated against the observed travel patterns from the postal surveys. The qualitative views and quantitative analysis allowed the main factors affecting travel behaviour and transport derived social exclusion in rural areas to be defined, supporting recommendations for the planning, management, operation and analysis of rural accessibility.
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