Pittwater Life August 2017 Issue

News
‘Why I’m for the B-Line’
As residents associations
and community groups
continue to rally, debate
and oppose the impact of the
B-Line Bus Service and its
planned Newport Beach terminus
point, other residents hope
that their voice in favour of the
B-Line is heard.
Allan Porter, 73, of Avalon
Beach, says it’s important to
not let emotion cloud the issue.
The 30-years Pittwater resident
said the distant parts of
the northern beaches remained
the same distance from the
major urban centres of north
and central Sydney – but had
become further away in travel
time as growth, urbanisation
and road usage continued to
increase.
“That’s progress… that’s
life on the northern beaches,
where an increasing number of
people want to live,” Mr Porter
said. “And now there is an improvement
on the horizon that
has cheered up a lot of people –
those who are frequent public
transport users, those who see
the attraction that improved
public transport offers and
have long hoped for the benefit
of something new.”
Mr Porter said that while
there had been a lot of “huffing
and puffing” about the
effect of buses having to turn
around, buses were doing that
now.
“One can be forgiven if
they hadn’t noticed,” he said.
“Avalon Beach has been a loop
for buses to terminate journeys
from the city, swing into
Avalon Parade, then Old Barrenjoey
Road, then Barrenjoey
Road to a rest point outside
Avalon Beach Surf Club awaiting
schedule to commence.
“The system works and has
done successfully for years as
part of the natural environmental
integration of people
and vehicular movement.”
Mr Porter – who describes
himself as “old enough to
know that things change,
experienced enough to know
that when something new is
proposed there’s frequently
objection, and wise enough
to know that things seem
to sort themselves out very
nicely” – noted the schedule of
departures from Avalon Beach
was currently on average about
every 15 minutes.
“Although Avalon Beach is
not, sadly, the turnaround
point for the B-Line, an increase
to a scheduled departure
of every 10 minutes as is
proposed with the B-Line is no
big deal no matter where the
terminus.”
He remains disappointed
the red line was run through
Avalon Beach as the B-Line
terminus.
“It’s a pity, as the higher deck
of the B-Line buses might have
permitted travellers one of
the greatest ocean road views
in Sydney, not visible from
normal vehicles.”
As for opposition to proposed
schedules for new and
existing bus routes servicing
the B-Line, he said: “Having
been closely associated with
the business of the heavy
vehicle transport industry, I
can say that when an operator
has a rig costing big money, he
is not going to have it sit idle
in car parks or neighbourhood
streets.
“A commercial vehicle that
is not working is loss making.
Down-time is eliminated
through good scheduling. Getting
bums on seats or freight
on truck and achieving a
satisfactory result is all a matter
of research and calculation
and I give credit to those who
have the knowledge and skills
to do this.”
He said anyone who had
travelled overseas would have
favourable opinions on the
good public transport systems
they had experienced.
“I am sure the B-Line will
achieve an excellent pass
mark and give some welcome
evidence that something is
happening on the northern
beaches that improves our connection
to the rest of the world
nearby.” – Nigel Wall
New course options for Pub2Pub
The iconic Pub2Pub Charity Fun Run
and Festival celebrates its 25th year of
raising hundreds of thousands of dollars
for local charities. The event will be staged
on Sunday August 27, from 8-10am.
Organised by the Rotary Club of
Brookvale, the event now has three
course options: 13km from Dee Why SLC
to Newport SLC; 6km from Warriewood
to Newport; and 3km from Mona Vale to
Newport.
A Family Festival will be held at the Newport
Beach finish line with live music, a licensed
bar area, international food options and
plenty of fun rides and games for the kids.
More info visit pub2pub.com.au
6 AUGUST 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991