RECENT changes made to the Transperth bus routes have left two Wannanup mothers terrified for their children’s safety.
Up until the beginning of last month, Sandra Lavender and Robina Kemp put their trust in the bus route 594 to carry their children to Halls Head Community College in one piece.
Now Ms Lavender’s daughter and Ms Kemp’s two children are forced to cross four lanes of traffic on Old Coast Road travelling at 90km/h to catch the bus to school.
“It’s a dangerous road; at that time there are people dropping their kids off at school and going to work,” Ms Lavender said. “It’s full on out there, and I mean full on.”
Transperth changed the route earlier this year, installing two new bus stops on either side of Old Coast Road at Rees Place and Northport Boulevard to replace the two school-allocated stops on Merrivale Street, which Ms Lavender said was used by more than 20 students every day.
Transperth spokesman David Hynes said route 594 was changed to cater for the new 593 route, introduced for the high demand in the area.
Route 594 was changed to cater for the new 593 route, introduced to cater for the high demand in the area.
“In this instance, the changes mean we are able to provide a service which is more efficient for our passengers,” Mr Hynes said.
He said the new route meant passengers, who lived on the other side of the road, now only needed to cross the road once when coming from Mandurah, rather than for both directions.
Ms Lavender and Ms Kemp want Transperth to pick up the students on the way to its starting point in Dawesville, currently a time when it is out of service, so students don’t have to cross the road.
As it is, the pair feels the bus stop location puts their children in too much danger.
“There are cars coming from over the bridge, turning out from Rees Place and coming up Old Coast Road,” Ms Kemp said.
“That’s three lots of traffic."
If the problem is not fixed, Ms Lavender said she would not let her son, who is due to start high school next year, take the bus as he has mild cerebral palsy and is likely to stumble while crossing the busy road.
“To me I’m upset that they have total disregard for or children’s safety,” Ms Lavender said.
Mr Hynes said there was a public consultation period prior to the change which received mostly good feedback.
He noted the high demand for the route 594 meant the original bus stop location was not suitable.
“Narrow thoroughfares like Merrivale Street simply aren’t suitable for a high-frequency bus route,” Mr Hynes said.