The coronavirus pandemic has seen lockdown restrictions applied across Australia, forcing people to find new ways to interact, work and travel.
But barriers like this are nothing new for the thousands of people with disabilities across regional Australia who struggle with unreliable access to public transport.
Key points:
The long haul
The idea of life in lockdown is nothing new to Harvey Thulborn-McCorkell.
Harvey Thulborn-McCorkell lives three hours south-west of Melbourne in the seaside city of Warrnambool.
The region’s served by four long-distance trains each day; however, boarding them in a wheelchair is sometimes easier said than done.
Ageing stock on Mr Thulborn-McCorkell’s train line means an accessible carriage isn’t always connected when the train arrives.
“It feels pretty shit, and out of my control,” said Mr Thulborn-McCorkell.
The unreliable nature of the service has shaped Mr Thulborn-McCorkell’s life.
His dream of studying computer programming in Geelong was quashed because he can’t rely on public transport to take him to class, while spontaneous catch-ups with friends in Melbourne are nearly impossible.
His story is one of hundreds being shared by the Disability Resource Centre’s ‘Lifetime Lockdown’ campaign.
“There are people in Victoria that have been in lockdown their whole life,” said Mr Thulborn-McCorkell.
Alternatives available, says transport operator
The Victorian Government has until 2032 to ensure all the state’s public transport.
The Disability Resource Centre believes that’s not soon enough, and is calling on the State Government to fund an urgent upgrade.
Executive Officer Kerri Cassidy said people are still being left behind.
“Accessible public transport is a human right,” Ms Cassidy said.
V-Line said it had updated its app and planning services so passengers can see if an accessible carriage is available.
“We aim to have accessible carriages on as many long distance services as possible,” a V-Line spokesperson said.
“And we will always provide an alternative for passengers, such as an accessible taxi, in instances where they are not available.”
An ongoing battle
The fight for accessible public transport in Victoria has continued for decades.
Some improvements to the Melbourne tram network have been made.
“It’s a barrier to education, to employment, to be involved in the social world and civic life, and on the other side is our society misses out on people because they’re not there,” Ms Cassidy said.
“We’re simply not experiencing as full and diverse a society as we could.”
Shepparton’s Athena Papadatis organises her life with military precision, to ensure there’s an accessible carriage available.
She’s learned to work around the limitations, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy about it.
“I’m the type of person that wants to have the opportunity to go out spontaneously,” she said.
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