Introduction
Problem of lack of transportation can result in different negative consequences. First of all, it results in the ever-increasing levels of air pollution. It is conditioned by the fact that today people often prefer to have their own cars and use them every day. In this way, there are way too many cars in our roads. If the transportation system was better planned and realized, there would have been less traffic in the streets, which would prevent a great deal of environmental issues. Besides, this lack of transportation affects a great deal of other spheres of people’s life. It can become a real challenge to go to some part of the city, especially with heavy traffic in the busiest hours. If affects not only people’s daily life, but also various businesses.
Thus, it is clear that this problem should be solved somehow, and the sooner – the better. In this paper I want to focus on the problem that is also a consequence of the poor transportation system – the increasing levels of crimes in the area of Bankstown.
Bankstown Description
The Ministry of Transport classifies Bankstown as a part of Contract Region 13 along with Parramatta, Burwood and Liverpool. Bankstown is the center of this metropolitan region with approximate population of 27 000 people. People who travel to Bankstown come from a variety of areas, from Lansdowne, Villawood and Georges Hall to Padstow Heights and Picnic Point, and across to Wiley Park. There are also people who come from Chipping Norton, Liverpool, Milperra, Moorebank and Revesby. Youth constitutes a large part of the population – about 14% are among 10 and 19 years of age (Ministry of Transport, 2006).
Bankstown represents one of the most multicultural areas in the country, and there are more than 60 languages spoken in this suburb. In accordance with 2006 Census, about a half of the Bankstown population originates from overseas, such places as China, Vietnam and Lebanon. The second most spoken language is Arabic, which makes up 23.1% of the total number of people living in the region, then goes Vietnamese with 16.2% and Mandarin with 4.1%. By the religious affiliation the majority of people adhere to Islam (22.9%), 22.8% are Catholics, 11.9% are Buddhists and 9.7% have chosen Eastern Orthodox faith. The rest of the population, 7.4% do not follow any religion (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006).
The index value of advantage/disadvantage was 8 for the Bankstown suburb, which means that there is a considerable number of people who get high salaries in the region, while the number of those who are unskilled in the workforce is relatively low (Ministry of Transport, 2006). This area is primarily a family one with a great share of couple families with children.
Public and Community Transport in Bankstown
Within the Contract Region 13 there are 27 bus routes in operation, along with a network of school services. Bankstown Airport is one of the biggest ones in Australia and provides charte, training and freight services. The local railway station is the main one on the CityRail Bankstown line (NSW Railway Network, n.d.). Buses are operated by the local bus operators, which function under the contract to the Ministry of Transport. There is also a variety of taxicab companies that function in the region.
The community transport of Bankstown offers transport services to the Bankstown and Canterbury areas. The services involve individual transport to non-medical appointments and social activities, hopping, individual wheelchair transport for medical and social outings, individual medical transport. It is especially useful for people with disabilities (Public Transport, n.d.).
Since 2008 there were launched substantial changes in the bus system of Bankstown, which involved closure of certain bus terminals with their substitution with new bus interchange (Your Council, n.d.). New bus corridor was planned to open the Bankstown City Plaza overpass so as to change the traffic. Bankstown City Council also launched development of the Public Transport Improvement Plan in 2001, which supports the council’s goal to fulfill roles in the services that help improve access to and reduce the use of the motor vehicles with the aim of improving community and environment amenity and health.
Crime Statistics in Bankstown
Today Bankstown is one of the regions that show average crime statistics in such categories as steal from person, assault, break and enter - dwelling, sexual assault, break and enter - non-dwelling, and malicious damage to property. Despite the fact that the crime levels are not that high in the area, the local people have high rates of fear of crimes (Crime Statistics, n.d.).
The percentage of youth (10-19) that committed crimes in the region according to NSW statistics for 2008 is as following: assault (related to domestic violence) – 9%; assault (related to non-domestic violence) – 32%; robbery – 64%; break and enter (dwelling) – 50%; break and enter (non-dwelling) – 53%; motor vehicle theft – 41%; steal from motor vehicle – 32%; steal from retail store – 24%; steal from person – 36%; malicious damage to property – 39% (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2008).
Presumable Methods for Overcoming the Problem
After analysis of the information presented above it becomes clear that although the situation can be called rather calm in the region in regards of crime rates, there is a strong need to find a solution to this problem. Because of the fact that lack of public transportation contributes to the increase of the youth crime rates, it is evident that there is major planning required that should address the most problematic issues the region faces.
Direct recommendations that can considerably improve the situation are as follows: it is necessary to analyze the whole public transportation system of the region so as to reveal its weaknesses; it is necessary to find ways to improve the weak places in the transportation system; it is necessary to develop social advertising plan that would popularize renovated and improved public transportation system, directed particularly at the youth. Thus, a complex strategic plan should be developed and implemented in order to reach the best possible result.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006. 2006 Census QuickStats: Bankstown (State Suburb). [online] Available at: < http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au> [Accessed 13 September 2011].
Bankstown City Council, n.d. Public Transport. [online] Available at:
Bankstown City Council, n.d. Crime Statistics. [online] Available at:
Bankstown City Council, n.d. Your Council. [online] Available at:
Ministry of Transport, 2006. Contract Region 13. [pdf] Available at:
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2008. Local Government Area Crime Report Series: Bankstown. [pdf] Available at:
NSW Railway Network, n.d. Bankstown Line. [online] Available at:
