Shelters in, frequency out bus stops welcomed

Kim Waters
Controversial new bus shelters are welcome in Moorabool Street but the frequency of services make them useless to many shoppers and commuters, according to a public transport lobby group.
Public Transport Users Association’s Paul Westcott said retailers who criticised the proposed shelters in last week’s Independent were fighting “essential” facilities.
“I don’t know whether anyone has looked around Moorabool Street recently but it’s a sad sight with a lot of closed shops and deserted footpaths,” Mr Westcott said.
“I would have thought bringing bus users back would be a plus for traders, not a minus.”
Mr Westcott said City Hall had widened footpaths in Moorabool Street to allow for the shelters.
“These shelters will be less of an obstruction than the alfresco dining spots that seem to spread out everywhere, making it difficult for people to walk around,” he said.
“We see it as very counter-productive for traders to say they don’t want buses but then moan and groan about all the traffic congestion and parking that make it difficult for their customers. Having bus shelters in a central spot will reduce that congestion and draw consumers to Moorabool Street.”
However, Mr Westcott slammed State Government for failing to increase bus service frequencies.
“The new bus shelters are great but services in Geelong are really too infrequent to be used by anyone who has an alternative,” he said.
“It’s a take-it-or-leave-it situation, meaning public transport in Geelong is really only used by the elderly, the disabled or youth.”
Mr Westcott said his association had discussed bus frequencies with State Government but extra funding to increase services was “probably a long way off”.
“We will be interested to see whether there are any changes when the new shelters are built.
“Department of Transport is reluctant to tell us anything but without a frequency increase it will continue to be a social service for the elderly and young.”
A Department of Transport spokesperson said a plan for “better bus connections” would commence in mid-2010 as part of an $80 million bus improvement package for the region.
“There will also be improvement to the frequency of some services, which is still being determined,” the spokesperson said.