With improved health care people are living longer and more active lives. This is rewarding for the individual and provides a wealth of knowledge and experience for the community to draw on. Staying active and participating in community life is vital for your health and wellbeing. Access to transport is necessary to staying active. If you don’t drive, it can present real challenges, but it is possible to get around and stay mobile.

Unlike other states, Victoria’s licensing policy is based on a person’s ability to drive safely. There is no retesting for licence renewal based on the age of a driver. People can drive to any age as long as they are safe to do so. The decision to reduce or stop driving is often made by the driver. This may be because driving is becoming difficult or stressful, or following a recommendation from a family member, friend or doctor.

Drivers of any age can develop medical conditions that affect their ability to drive safely. These conditions must be reported to VicRoads. Doctors can advise on which conditions need to be reported. Victoria’s licensing system also relies on the community to contact VicRoads about drivers who are considered to be unsafe. In these cases medical reports are requested and driving retests may be conducted. This process may result in the licence being suspended or cancelled.

Dealing with the decision
Discovering that you can no longer drive can lead to feelings of loss of freedom and independence. It may also be frustrating and difficult to imagine life without driving. What is important is that you don’t allow the quality of your life to suffer. Explore the full range of options available to you and plan for how you can continue to socialise, maintain hobbies and interests, pay bills and shop.
There may be more than one solution to your transport needs. You may need to use different options depending on where you are going and when you are travelling.

What if I own a car?
If you decide to sell your car, you can use the money to fund other ways of travelling, such as public transport.

Before you sell, check the value of your car using the classified ads for cars in the daily newspapers as a guide. You can also look at local online car selling websites on the internet, or obtain a free copy of the booklet Better Car Deals: A guide to buying, owning & selling a car, from the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Consumer Affairs Victoria or the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC). The booklet can also be downloaded at: consumer.vic.gov.au
 
To ensure you get a fair price for your car consult a trusted family member or friend before making any major decisions.
 
Depending on the value of your car you may decide to give it away to a relative or a friend who may need a vehicle.

Whatever you decide to do with your car, be sure to notify VicRoads if you have transferred ownership. You can get a Transfer of Ownership form from your local VicRoads Customer Service Centre or from the Vehicle Registration Forms page.

If you decide to keep your car for others to use, even occasionally, it still needs to be registered and insured. Remember to calculate the costs of keeping your car including servicing, insurance and registration. These can add up to be significant expenses. Visit the "my car" page on the RACV website.


Public transport

Victoria has a modern public transport system of trains, trams and buses that can get you to most places efficiently. In metropolitan Melbourne a single ticket – myki or Metcard – can take you anywhere you want to go on a train, tram or bus, or any combination of these.

myki, the new ticketing system which is a durable, plastic smart card, is also available. Many people use public transport every day instead of a car because it is quicker, easier and a lot cheaper than driving and parking a car.

If you have never travelled on public transport or it has been a while since you’ve used it, plan a trip first with a friend or family member who is familiar with the system.

Help with planning your trip
For public transport information, help planning your journey or timetable and route information call 13 16 38 from 6am to midnight daily.

For TTY facility phone (03) 9619 2727

You can also get public transport information online at metlinkmelbourne.com.au Use Metlink’s journey planner on the website to plan a journey on public transport using trains, trams and buses. The journey planner provides you with a range of travel options and related timetables.

Public transport ticketing
Melbourne is progressively making the switch to a new ticketing system called myki. While this is happening you will notice two types of ticketing equipment on the public transport network.
During this time the number of myki sales and top up outlets will gradually increase.

You can choose to use either Metcard or myki to travel on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses, including V/Line services in Zone 1 + 2 to Melton and Sunbury. The existing Metcard ticketing system can still be used and will run alongside myki until December 2012. You can continue using Metcards until advised otherwise, or you can make the switch to myki when you feel ready.

Where to buy public transport tickets
You can buy public transport tickets from:

• the MetShop at the Melbourne Town Hall, corner of Swanston and Little Collins streets
• the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square
• retail outlets displaying the Metcard flag or myki sign (e.g. newsagents, milk bars and 7-Eleven stores)
• ticket machines at train stations, on trams (coins only) and on most buses (limited selection)
• online at myki.com.au
• myki discovery centre at Southern Cross Station
• selected V/Line stations and ticket agents.

For current information about ticketing call Metlink on 13 16 38 from 6am to midnight daily or visit the Metlink website. 

For more information about myki call 13 69 54 (13 myki) from 6am to midnight daily or visit the myki website.

Discounts on public transport
Many people are eligible for a discount (concession fare) to travel on public transport. For more information about concession fares on public transport contact Metlink on 13 16 38 from 6am to midnight daily or visit the Metlink website. 

Free weekend travel 
If you are a holder of a Victorian Seniors Card, or you are a Disability Support Pensioner or Carer Payment recipient under 60 living in Victoria, you are eligible for a free myki which contains a free weekend travel entitlement. Your myki will automatically give you free travel on weekends within any two adjacent zones (e.g. Zones 1 and 2) in Victoria when you touch on and touch off.

Application forms are available at 78 Premium Stations in metropolitan Melbourne, staffed V/Line stations, the MetShop (corner of Swanston and Little Collins streets) or you can download a form from the Metlink website. 

Victorian Seniors Card
Permanent residents who are not working full-time and are over 60 years of age are eligible for a Victorian Seniors Card. This entitles you to travel at seniors discounted fares throughout Victoria. Cardholders are also entitled to public transport concessions in most states and territories. To apply for a Seniors Card, phone 1300 797 210 or visit the Victorian Seniors Card website.

Australian Pensioner Concession Card
If you are a pensioner you will already have this card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The card entitles you to a concession fare on public transport services throughout Australia. For more information call Centrelink on 13 23 00 or visit the Centrelink website.

Health Care Card
This card is issued by Centrelink and entitles the holder to concession fares on public transport services within Victoria, and interstate legs of some V/Line services. For more details contact Centrelink on 13 23 00 or visit the Centrelink website.

Companion Card
A Companion Card identifies the cardholder as a person who has a significant disability and is not able to attend activities and events without attendant care type support. When the cardholder purchases a ticket to travel on public transport within Victoria, a second ticket will be issued for their companion at no charge (subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Companion Card). For more information or an application form, phone 1800 650 611 or visit the Companion Card website.  

Free travel passess for people with a disability
These passes are issued to people who have severe and permanent impairment (e.g. legally blind). The pass entitles people to free travel on public transport throughout Victoria. For more information or an application form contact the Metlink Central Pass Office at Southern Cross Station, phone (03) 9619 1159 or visit the Metlink website.

Veterans
Victorian veterans and war widows who hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold or White card are eligible to travel on a concession fare on public transport.Holders of the following passes are eligible for free travel on public transport in Victoria:

• War Veterans’ Travel Pass (code WV)
• TPI War Veterans’ Travel Pass (code TV)

For more information contact the Metlink Central Pass Office on (03) 9619 1159 or visit Public Transport Victoria's website.

Taxi services
While taxis are usually more expensive than other forms of public transport they will deliver you directly to where you need to go. Regularly using a taxi can be cheaper than running a car. Some taxi services have wheelchair accessible taxis available. If you use a wheelchair or motorised mobility device, ask about these facilities when you phone to book a taxi.

Taxi subsidy scheme
Victoria’s Multi Purpose Taxi Program is designed to assist people who have a severe and permanent disability that prevents them travelling independently on public transport. Applicants normally must already hold an approved disability card to become a member. Members of the program can travel in any licensed Victorian taxi and pay half fare. A maximum discount of $60 per trip and $2,180 per year (pro-rata) applies.

For further information, phone 1800 638 802 or visit the Department of Transport website - Multi Purpose Taxi Program

Walking and cycling as healthy ways to travel

Walking is a form of moderate physical activity that offers real health benefits as it can:

• keep you active, fit and healthy
• help you to control your weight
• reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Moderate physical activity, such as walking, reduces the likelihood of some conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Think about how you can mix walking with other means of transport, such as walking to the bus, tram stop or railway station.

Pedestrians have to share the road with vehicles so it is important to take care when crossing roads. Plan where you will walk and always choose to cross roads at the safest places:

• Traffic lights (watch for turning vehicles).
• Pedestrian crossings.
• Children’s crossings only when Children Crossing flags are displayed.

If you have to cross the road at other places:

• Walk straight across the road – don’t jay-walk.
• Keep checking in both directions to make sure the way is clear.
• Do not cross the road from between parked cars as drivers may not see you.
• Try not to cross near trees or bushes because drivers may not see you.
• Avoid crossing near a bend or crest in the road. Give yourself a good chance to see vehicles coming from both directions.
• Avoid crossing roads near roundabouts, unless a pedestrian crossing is provided. If there is no pedestrian crossing, pedestrians must give way to vehicles.

If you are walking at night or on dark days it is important to be easily seen, so: