Cr Lord, speaking at a Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board meeting in Mosgiel on Wednesday, asked Otago Regional Council transport operations officer Julian Phillips if the regional council had the ability to make changes if a bus stop was dangerous.
He asked if the regional council’s contracts allowed the flexibility to change the location of a problematic bus stop, such as the one on a traffic island "in the middle of" Stuart St, near the pool.
"On a cold frosty morning, that road can be as slippery as snot on a door knob," Cr Lord said.
The stop was putting "frail" passengers at risk, he said.
A better location would be available so people did not have to cross the road to access the pool, he said.
Mr Phillips said change was possible and he knew the bus stop was slippery.
"I have slipped over at that stop holding my 3-year-old child on our way to Moana Pool."
He agreed the bus stop "needed looking at" and he would investigate, he said.
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Much thanks to DCC Cr Mike Lord for raising the issue. As a regular pool user, I have asked both DCC and ORC for this improvement over the last 15 years or so, to no avail. Yet DCC complains the pool car parking is under pressure- only 3 disabled parks too!
Pity your photo isn't of the bus stop in question which is on the traffic island. You have photographed the one outside Otago Boys High which isn't so bad. The one on the traffic island is in a very weather-exposed spot and not very pleasant to stand at, with cars hurtling down the hill towards you. It's also dangerous to access for the visually-impaired, as they have to cross a free left turn with no pedestrian crossing support. I wish this bus stop was at the lights at the intersection of Stuart St and Queens Drive. A stationary bus would block left turning traffic only momentarily. Then pool users would not have to cross a wide road going uphill. It would be easy enough to put a bus shelter there (that would actually work!) and a safety rail so people could safely get from the bus stop to the pool entrance, even when it's frosty. The Route 38 bus should stop there too, instead of in London St, linking to the university.
How about asking a few more people that use this stop before making a change. Two people's opinions are not enough.