Article: Sunshine Coast bus stops to be extended (Sunshine Coast Daily)

[Sunbus610]

Coast bus stops to be extended
By Nikkii Joyce

Many Sunshine Coast bus stops do not meet government standards.

Bus drivers, union and council representatives are all reported to have walked out in agreement after an urgent meeting on Monday to address Sunshine Coast bus stop issues.

The meeting was convened after a bus driver claimed almost all Sunshine Coast bus stops fell short of government requirements.

Sunbus Network Planning manager Kerry O?Brien said four items were listed as priority at the meeting of 12 individuals that included bus drivers and representatives from Sunbus, the Transport Workers Union and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

?A majority of the bus stop are are more than adequate, it simply requires the removal of a signpost or some road markings, which can be achieved quite quickly,? Mr O?Brien said.

?Others will require consultation with owners of relevant properties and that will take a little longer.?

Mr O?Brien said other items listed for long term solutions including facilities for drivers.

?Suitable facilities and locations where drivers can take meal breaks and where they can park the buses will also be looked at, but again will be something that will take a little longer.?

Mr O?Brien said the discussion was ?positively? received by all in attendance and the Susnhine Coast Regional Council will provide a formal response to how and when each issue will be rectified.

This Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper story is found HERE

[WTN]

I have seen the poor and potentially dangerous state of at least two of these bus stops myself.  There are routes which travel and stop on high speed roads (80+ km/h).  Take the 80-90 km/h "rural" section of Nambour Connection Road.  While some stops have shelters, adequately long pull-over areas and stopping bays, some don't and could be improved.  The Nambour-bound stop at the Big Pineapple is a prime example.  The "stopping-bay" is nothing but grass, gravel and a bit of the road shoulder.  It's so narrow I could almost be run over by a stopping bus.  There's no shelter apart from the pedestrian overpass.  The only benefit is the far visibility of straight on coming traffic. 

The Mooloolabah-bound stop opposite is only slightly better.  Sure, it has a sliproad completely separating it from mainstream traffic, but that sliproad is rough and takes a sharp dip.  The stop itself is just beyond the bottom.  Makes more difficult for on-coming buses and hailing passengers to see each other.

You would expect bus stops at a tourist destination to be better equipped, but unfortunately this is quite the opposite.