``I'm absolutely over the moon,'' petition organiser and Lynn St resident Andrea Irvine said yesterday, about the petition response.
Mrs Irvine said the petition was being signed at the Wakari Kindergarten, near her house, and concerned residents would also be seeking signatures today in two other affected areas, nearby Shetland St and Centennial Ave.
Many people had voiced their concern to her that 60 buses or more a day were using the steep and narrow Lynn and Shetland Sts as well as the nearby narrow and winding Centennial Ave.
Mrs Irvine was highly aware of safety issues in Lynn St, after having had three car wing mirrors, each valued about $600, smashed by passing vehicles this year, and a parked family car written off after being hit by a speeding vehicle.
She was concerned that a temporary bus stop had been placed outside her house, and another was on a previously no-stopping area opposite the kindergarten.
Her main concern was safety, particularly given there were ``little children around'' and both Lynn and Shetland Sts were badly affected by ice in winter.
Kindergarten committee president Julie Olsen said regional council staff had been in touch with people who had raised concerns, which was ``really good''.
Her ``big concern'' remained the safety of young children using the kindergarten.
Council support services manager Gerard Collings earlier said the council had consulted extensively over the bus route changes, which were proposed in the 2014 regional public transport plan.
He said the bus stops were temporary and there would be discussions with the closest property owners before they were finalised.
