Re the Kogarah bus stop death on Monday September 15, 2014
Firstly, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the parents and family of the two young ladies (Aneri Patel on September 15 and Emma Hansen, March 27, 2007) who lost their lives innocently waiting at a bus stop. Any life, particularly a young life should never be lost prematurely. The strength and courage their families will need each day to continue with your lives is incomprehensible and I hope they are henceforth rewarded with only goodness in their lives.
It is not fair when the lives of responsible, educated people are adversely affected by irresponsible uneducated people.
As a Kogarah and Rockdale Council area resident for many years I would like to suggest the following:
The bus stop where the accident happened should be immediately moved further along to the straight part of Railway Parade in front of the Chinese variety store.
The bus stop on the opposite side of Railway Parade should be positioned further back and the Pick Up/Loading Zone which is in front of it could then be moved further back so that it is away from the curve in the road and further from the traffic lights.
(A good distance should be kept between the front of the Bus Zone and the back of the Pick Up/Loading Zone).
The Pick Up Zone on Montgomery Street, currently alongside the Newsagency, should be positioned further back, just before the laneway. At present it is too close to the traffic lights.
The other Pick Up Zone in front of the Kogarah Post Office on Montgomery Street should be taken away altogether as people can use the one in Point 2 above which is also on the station side. This will give more room to buses and loading zone vehicles only.
The Pick Up Zone at the intersection in front of the Chinese bakery should be moved further along and be a Loading Zone only and the Pick Up Zone should be transferred to Montgomery street in front of the St George Bank.
This would result in three Pick Up and Loading Zones, (with two dedicated Pick Up only Zones), at a good distance away from the intersection and lights.
All the above measures should help reduce congestion and improve safety.
Intersection Traffic Lights
There should be dedicated right turning arrows, (cars can only turn on a green arrow while oncoming traffic is stopped), for both east and west travelling traffic turning right from Montgomery Street into Railway Parade.
Likewise, there should be dedicated right turning arrows for both north and south travelling traffic turning right from Railway Parade into Montgomery Street.
Close to the traffic lights on both sides of each road should be strict No Stopping sections.
In hindsight, the decision made, after the 2007 fatality, not to move the bus stop was clearly a mistake.
Two lost lives is two too many.
There is now an opportunity for Kogarah Council, police and the relevant authorities to make amends and completely re-assess the whole intersection area.
Please put aside bureaucracy, public service red tape and funding issues and act immediately.
Shubha Vagholkar, Montgomery
