BUS STOPS WITH BAILEY

State Transport Minister told to act as residents forced to walk 2km for pick up

RESIDENTS in the northern Gold Coast are having to pay for cabs to get to buses because the designated stops are spread too far for the injured or elderly.

The heavily-congested suburb of Pimpama has only two bus stops, and TransLink has told drivers not to pick up passengers who hail for a ride.

To make matters worse, the new shopping centre in the area opened without a bus stop, meaning passengers have to walk 2.2km to the nearest drop off. The only two bus stops in Pimpama are at the intersection of Swan Rd and Yawalpah Rd and Depot Rd, towards Ormeau.

Coomera woman Nikki Monson, 27, relies on public transport after a knee injury meant she could not drive.

The single mum of a 14month-old daughter does her shopping at Pimpama Junction and said she had to pay for a taxi as the nearest bus stop was too far.

“Taxis cost too much and that’s my only option as I am unable to walk,” she said. “There are also older people who need to get to the shops and can’t because of the lack of bus stops.”

Pimpama man Jaydan Rufus, 20, has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound.

“It is a big issue for locals,” he said.

Mr Rufus started an online petition to turn Yawalpah Rd into a “hail and ride” route.

But TransLink say that practice is “unsafe”.

Area Councillor Cameron Caldwell said council had earmarked two sites for bus stops – one on Dixon Drv and one directly outside the shopping centre – and urged Transport Minister Mark Bailey to follow through on funding and construction.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he had been made aware of ongoing public transport issues near Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre.

“My department is actively developing a safe and accessible solution as a priority,” he said last night.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said TransLink was investigating improvements to the bus network, but would not commit to building more stops.

When further questioned, the spokesman said developers were often required to fund the provision of bus stops for large retail or residential developments, but would not confirm whether this was a condition of Pimpama Junction.

THERE ARE ALSO OLDER PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET TO THE SHOPS AND CAN’T BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF BUS STOPS NIKKI MONSON