Students left stranded

SETON Catholic College students have been left behind or asked to leave buses to and from school because there is not enough room on them, according to parent Robyn O’Brien.

Ms O’Brien said that last week a bus going through Coogee drove past two bus stops where students from the school were waiting because there was no room on board.

She said that on the same day there were too many students waiting for the bus to Coogee after school.

“There were too many students on the bus for the driver to drive safely so he asked if eight or nine students could get off the bus, despite there being no other way for them to get home,” she said.

“The principal insisted the driver ring the depot for another bus. He initially refused but eventually agreed after an argument.

“The principal will not be there every day to make sure the driver does not leave children behind.”

This is the latest in a number of events since it was announced in December that some services to and from the Coogee and Munster area would be cut or merged.

Ms O’Brien said repeated requests for a meeting between Seton principal Egmont Melton and Transport Minister Troy Buswell have been ignored.

A spokesman for Mr Buswell told the Gazette that a meeting would be scheduled at the minister’s earliest opportunity.

Member for South Metropolitan Region Lynn MacLaren said public transport needed to keep up with urban sprawl.

“Sprawling suburbs to the north and south are stretching existing services to the limit and several petitions have been tabled in Parliament drawing attention to the inadequacy of services,” she said.

“A Transperth bus doesn’t have to take school children on board if the bus is full, but a dedicated school bus is obliged to pick them up.

“The Seton parents are raising a petition of their own to get the dedicated bus up and running again.”

Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said he would write a letter to Mr Buswell asking him to reconsider.

What everyone else is thinking

Claire

24/02/2012

Agree with both previous comments. Trying 2 get 2 ellenbrook from the city is a nightmare as you have to go via morley due to no bus being available directly from the city. If we are wanting to encourage people to use public transport we need to put the service there for people 2 use or it's pointless.

Hugh Hyland

21/02/2012

It's an absolute disgrace to reduce such essential school services, they need to be increased. Notwithstanding there are hundreds of students there who require buses, there are now only 2 school services listed, compared to up to 19 for other colleges!

Furthermore there is only one other passing public service that stops at the school, proceeding east/west on Winterfold Rd, but incredibly the only north/south bus, along Stock Rd, is express past the college!

It's time for urgent action to restore the school buses, & to properly utilise the existing services such as ensuring buses along Stock Rd stop at the college. This would also provide an essential connection with the east/west bus route, & stops could be added to connect with other east/west routes at Ralston St, also serving Hamilton Hill High School, & at Forrest Rd.

They are supposed to be not only providing an essential public service but also reducing unnecessary reliance on private cars.

John Bunton

So if they are overloaded the driver is still obliged to break the law and have too many passengers on board. The real problem is not enough money is being spent on having enough buses. Penny pinchers.

John Bunton