Elderly call on City to stop it in St Leonards

Andrew Mathieson
ELDERLY St Leonards residents fear walking to local bus stops is endangering their safety.
St Leonards Progress Association has complained to Geelong’s council that some of their five bus stops were inadequately placed.
Members of the town’s peak community group said crossing a busy arterial road to catch a bus to Geelong was a threat to their lives, according to president Graeme Collins.
Two of the bus stops on Murradoc Road are across the road from a housing development where many of the elderly live, he said.
“The road is increasingly busy because there’s more developments taking place, with several opening in recent years,” Mr Collins said.
“The council and the bus company would argue that the bus is going out of town, so they have to cross the road regardless.”
Mr Collins said the association had urged City Hall for a commitment for “at least” two more bus shelters in more appropriate locations.
He said the growing Seaview Estate, which had secured more than 400 lots, needed a new stop and it wouldn’t change the bus route.
“The stops are a fair walk for elderly people – it’s something like three-quarters of a kilometre,” Mr Collins said.
The City has plans to build a new stop on Leviens Road and replace two in Murradoc that had fallen into disrepair before the end of June, 2009, a spokesperson said.