Pupils of a Dunedin intermediate school who catch the bus from the Otago Peninsula are faced with arriving nearly 15 minutes late each day, after the Otago Regional Council again declined to make minor changes to their bus route.
Yesterday morning, Macandrew Bay parent Jason Graham and about 30 Tahuna Normal Intermediate School pupils, including his son Tristan, caught the No 18 commuter bus, now the only option for pupils after the Go Bus withdrew from providing contracted school-bus services last year.
They arrived at the stop outside the Andersons Bay Rd McDonald's at 8.34am.
Many pupils had stood on the packed bus to allow other commuters to sit. They then began a walk of almost 2km to Tahuna, crossing several busy streets, before arriving at 8.59am, 14 minutes after the school's start time.
Mr Graham said that was not good enough.
Pupils needed a shorter walk from a closer bus stop which would not require them, some as young as 11, to cross several busy streets at peak time, he said.
About 100 to 120 pupils of schools including Tahuna, King's, Queen's and Bayfield High Schools live on the peninsula.
Mr Graham had proposed two alternative bus routes to the ORC which would reduce the current 1.7km walk to school from the bus stop for Tahuna pupils, but his proposals had been voted against by the ORC last month.
He said the ORC needed to take action before the second school term began on April 30.
Year 8 Tahuna pupil Hazel McDermott said she felt fairly confident crossing the road in the large group, which included dozens of classmates along with adults in high-vis vests yesterday.
But she thought it would be a more dangerous proposition for smaller groups without chaperones.
"I wouldn't feel as safe crossing alone."
Tahuna principal Tony Hunter said it would not take much to make sure his pupils arrived at his school at the start time of 8.45am, and suggested adding a stop near the Musselburgh shops for the two journeys back and forth to avoid the Andersons Bay Rd crossings.
"We're not asking for major changes. At the moment there's no hope of them arriving on time."
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope agreed, and said the ORC needed to take action, especially after yesterday's walk and late arrival.
"They'd be silly not to listen."
Mr Pope echoed Mr Hunter's suggestion that only a small change, such as adding a stop further up Andersons Bay Rd to avoid some of the crossings, would make a big difference.
"Even stopping at the BP would be a great improvement."
Yesterday's bus trip followed a public meeting of concerned parents at Macandrew Bay School last week after the ORC declined to adopt Mr Graham's suggested changes.
ORC councillor and Otago regional transport committee chairman Trevor Kempton said the council was open to changing the timetable to better accommodate the pupils, but he stopped short of saying it would consider changing routes.
"While we are open to investigating potential changes to the timetable, we're not expecting to make the route changes suggested at this point," he said.
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Comments
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think buses go every 30 minutes in the morning and route No 18 is no exception?
So if pupils are 15 minutes late then they as well could be 15 minutes early if they catch a bus half an hour before?
How does that shorten the walk or avoid crossing busy roads?
Not sure why everyone's so negative about walking like if it was something bad or harmful, but there are genuine options to avoid it (car and carpooling aside)
A) Cross the road and in 10 minutes catch bus No 3 heading towards Ocean Grove, it stops near Tahuna Intermediate School. Takes same time as walking.
B) Every city bus equipped with a bike rack which can accommodate two bicycles and it's free of charge. They're usually empty.
Not very convenient? Sorry but probably pupils are not the only users of route No 18 and there were reasons to make route the way it is. In general, with hopelessly low number of bus users it's good that we have at least some bus service.
Portobello is a remote community and you're lucky to have direct bus service to the city. Similar sized communities like Brighton and Waldronville lack any direct bus service and have to make ridiculous roundtrip in Abbotsford only to make stop in Green Island and connect with Mosgiel service.
You’re right - there is an earlier bus, and some kids catch this one, but there are other complications with this one too. The article mentions the lateness and the walk, but the biggest issue is the safety of a large number of 11/12 year olds walking along Andy Bay Rd. This is why we want the ORC to REVIEW the routes and times. We’re asking for a review and they won’t even consider that.
And while the ORC members sit in their nice warm offices, the young men and women (future voters) will be walking to school in rain, hail, snow, and freezing mornings.
There is absolutely no excuse for allowing school aged children to be treated the way are. Maybe the ORC councillors should join the children for a bus ride one cold rainy day ... it may just give them a reality check and see first hand what they're doing, because they are certainly not providing a service for those who need it most. I don't know whether it's arrogance or ignorance that makes people come up with the most impractical solutions to a problem and won't admit they've got it wrong.
Does anyone else think this situation is ridiculous? The ORC needs to take a long, hard look at itself. Who is it that they are there to serve after all?
Is there a petition anywhere that we can sign to show our displeasure at the way ORC is treating the Peninsula community? Preferably requesting the resignation of those concerned with this debacle.