Stops sited for bus users – council

Another Timaru resident is unhappy with planned changes to bus routes that would put a bus stop outside his house.

Raymond Miller, who lives in College Rd, has been told a new stop will be installed on his street.

It follows Selwyn St resident Cathy Couper telling The Timaru Herald a bus stop would be located right over her driveway.

Mr Miller said his driveway and his neighbour’s would also be blocked by a bus stop.

His property was near the intersection with Craigie Ave, where there were ‘‘numerous’’ crashes.

There was a primary school on the corner and Timaru Girls’ High School not far away on Cain St.

‘‘Bus stops this close to the intersection will create a major safety issue for young schoolgoers and their parents. There’s not room. It’s dangerous.’’

He was also concerned at a possible ‘‘invasion of privacy’’ as bus users could look directly into his yard and down his driveway.

Mr Miller felt residents had not been consulted.

‘‘There’s no ‘let’s discuss this’, it’s only ‘this is what’s happening’. It’s a dictatorship, not a question.’’

The new bus routes will come into effect on July 15. They will replace Timaru’s existing Gleniti, Grantlea, Marchwiel and South End routes with four new ones – the north, west and south routes, which would run on weekdays, and the link route, running on Saturdays as well as weekdays.

Timaru District Council is responsible for installing the infrastructure, but Environment Canterbury is responsible for the management of the routes.

Mr Miller reckons a better option for bus stops on his street is 200 metres away outside Martins Field, at the old brickyard site.

‘‘No-one parks there, so it wouldn’t interfere with roadside parking for property owners.’’

Timaru District Council land transport manager Andrew Dixon said feedback was being sought from affected residents.

‘‘We will meet with them. Sometimes there are alternatives.

‘‘At the end of the day we don’t need their permission. It is a public road.’’

The bus stops were being positioned at busy intersections for exactly that reason – convenience for users.

‘‘The message that came through loud and clear [during consultation on the bus route] was that people aren’t going to use the buses unless it’s convenient.

‘‘If they have to walk 200m . . . they’re not going to bother catching the bus.’’