Overview: The SI1 school bus service, operated by McHarry's Buslines, transports students to and from St Thomas Primary School and St Ignatius High School in Drysdale. Parents have safety concerns for children departing this service on weekday afternoons, at the Indented Head Post Office stop, on the east side of The Esplanade.​​​

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​​Context: The SI1 runs counterclockwise in the mornings, stopping on the western side of the street in front of the Indented Head Post Office shop. This stop is excellent, with ample room for the bus, adjacent parking, footpaths and a shelter.

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The afternoon service runs clockwise and stops on the eastern side of the street. This stop is narrow and only just accommodates the bus. There are no footpaths on either side of the stop and the ground is very uneven. The stop backs onto the caravan park fence. All children departing from this stop must cross the road. As many as 25 children depart at this stop each afternoon.

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Motorists coming from the south have an excellent view of the stop.

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Those coming from the north approach the stop over a slight rise in the road. There is a single sign alerting them to the possibility of children up ahead. However, trees and shrubs also crowd the roadside. The busy intersection of The Esplanade and Batman Road is around 150m north of the bus stop, presenting further distractions for approaching motorists. The speed limit is zoned 50km/hr.

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Primary school aged children get off first and run to the back of the bus and begin to cross while the older children are still disembarking. The narrowness of the stop means that children must stand in the traffic lane to check for vehicles coming from the south. Ideally, the children would all wait patiently on the small platform until the bus departed but this does not happen because they are kids.

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The issue is with the practical use of the eastern stop, which combines the design of the stop itself with the large number of kids who happen to depart at this location.

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Proposed solution: We are requesting a reversal of the afternoon McHarry's SI1 school bus service so that the issue of child safety at the eastern Indented Head Post Office stop is eliminated. This solution would be immediate, effective and free.

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What needs to happen: Public Transport Victoria must provide a directive to McHarry's Buslines to reverse the service.

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Current situation: McHarry's and Public Transport Victoria have repeatedly refused our request, arguing that the stop is safe enough for our children.

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Look at the videos and images in the Gallery and judge for yourself!

 

Keep in mind that these videos are taken in the quiet winter months and not during the busy summer period.

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LINK HERE TO SIGN OUR PETITION TO MCHARRY'S BUSLINES and PUBLIC TRANSPORT VICTORIA (PTV)​