Pittwater Life March 2023 Issue

News
Bus stop madness: gimme shelter!
The pensioner, clutching two heavy
bags of shopping, staggered from
Woolies at Avalon to the latest 192
bus stop.
It was the height of midsummer. There
was no level path to guide her there, and
no bus shelter or seat for her to rest.
So she sat down on the grass like a
kindy kid, with no shade or protection
had it been raining, until the bus arrived.
No-one is more embarrassed than
the bus drivers.
They can’t believe how Northern
Beaches Council and their employer
– Transport for NSW – have cocked
up the redesign of Avalon public
transport since the controversial
Streets as Shared Spaces project,
funded by the NSW Government.
The six-months ‘trial’ involving the
northern part of Avalon’s Old Barrenjoey
Road is now two months in.
For Avalon PS students, nothing
much has changed. At going home
time the 192 still leaves from outside
the school, pausing to pick up
Maria Regina students on the way.
If you’re an adult however, the regular
shifts to the bus stops have changed
countless times over the Summer, with
little regard to passengers’ needs, comfort
or convenience.
Take the current starting point of the
192 service to Stokes Point and return.
You’d be hard-pressed to find it, around
50 metres north of the Barrenjoey Road
traffic lights.
Yes, there’s a post signalling that it’s a
bus stop – and a bus timetable. Though
that timetable is for the 199 Manly to
Palm Beach service which doesn’t stop
here, and never did.
There’s also a sign saying the 191
service – via Bilgola Plateau and Clareville
OPINION
STARTING POINT: The new bus stop on Barrenjoey Rd.
– no longer departs from here. Instead, it
departs a pedestrian crossing away from
Ecodownunder on Avalon Parade.
Helpful if you’ve struggled here with
your shopping.
The bus drivers volunteer their opinions.
Most seriously, they warn the current
192 bus stop is a traffic hazard. Two
of them confide they fear children will
be injured dodging the northern flow to
Palm Beach via the ludicrously placed
traffic island to Avalon Beach Surf Club.
So, what’s to happen now?
It’s probably no surprise Council and
Transport for NSW blame each other –
albeit in the politest possible prose.
Our questions weren’t difficult: What
consultation was there between Council
and Transport for NSW before the bus
stops were moved? Why did the bus stops
move so often in the Christmas period?
Will the current bus stops stay? When will
the 192 bus stop get a seat or shelter?
The spokesperson for Transport for NSW
replied with gobbledygook, referring
Pittwater Life to Council: “Engagement of
this nature takes place through the Northern
Beaches Council Traffic Committee, of
which bus operators are a member.
“Determinations regarding timing of
implementation take place within this
forum.”
In December, the 192 service, which
formerly commenced opposite the
‘Barefoot Boulevard’ shopping strip
was moved while “roadworks were
underway to remove parking north
of the pedestrian crossing”.
And the bus shelter/seat? “Council
is responsible for bus stop infrastructure.
Please refer to Council.”
Naturally, Council was equally
into pointing the finger away from
itself.
“Works will recommence in late
February to complete the Streets As
Shared Spaces project,” said CEO
Ray Brownlee. “This will include
completion of the footpaths and
additional civil works.
“We look forward to continuing
to receive feedback from the community
during the trial period. Feedback will be
considered in the project evaluation.
“Council has been working through
commuter issues with Transport for NSW
and contractor Keolis Downer to address
concerns over access to bus stops.”
As for improving amenity at the bus
stop?
Council says it has committed to installing
a shelter and a seat.
“We are working with our supplier
to finalise timings associated with this
installation,” said a spokesperson.
Maybe by next Summer then?
– Steve Meacham
PHOTO: Steve Meacham
16 MARCH 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991