ABSTRACT
The rationale for providing state-subsidised public transport has shifted from a social obligation to provide transport options for those without access to private transport to an economic and environmental imperative to minimise congestion and the total number of kilometres travelled by private vehicle and to maximise service productivity. In many jurisdictions this shift has seen a greater focus on the provision of high-occupancy crush loaded peak hour commuter services which are not designed to meet the needs of children and their carers, who often need to engage in trip chaining and to travel outside peak commuting periods. In addition to service scheduling difficulties, attitudes which may see children as out of place and unwelcome on commuter services, combined with inaccessible or child-unfriendly transport infrastructure, does not facilitate travel with or by children on many public transport services. Because the majority of children’s trips are accompanied, any consideration of children’s mobilities must also consider women’s mobilities. Combining the child-friendly cities agenda with feminist transport literature primarily around mobilities of care, this chapter advances basic criteria for the provision of child-friendly public transport services and supporting infrastructure which meets the travelling needs of children and their carers and juxtaposes the achievement of these in South East Queensland, Australia, and Stockholm, Sweden.
