BENDIGO’S new bus timetable is choking the CBD.
Within 24 hours of the timetable coming into effect on Monday, traders reported a dramatic impact on their businesses, with several left seething because their stores were being used as bus shelters and others reporting an immediate drop in trade.
The congestion created by more than 20 buses an hour travelling along Mitchell Street also caused havoc with traffic, often reducing one of the city’s main thoroughfares to one lane.
Commuters are also confused, with many school students left stranded on the first day of the new service.
“There was no chance to get to know the new timetable ... we can’t find which bus we should be catching,” one secondary student told the Bendigo Weekly at 4pm on Monday.
Another woman was furious after waiting at a bus stop which she later discovered was not in use.
“I’m so angry about it, I’ve missed my bus,” she said.
“It’s lucky I haven’t got my children tonight or I wouldn’t have been home in time to get them.”
More than 100 bus commuters now wait outside Toyworld in Mitchell Street from 3.30pm daily.
The crowd has restricted access to the store each day this week, resulting in the loss of at least one-hour’s trade daily for the business.
“I might as well shut my store from 3pm until 4.30pm,” part-owner Scott Mills said.
Mr Mills said there was a marked increased in shoplifting on Monday, with many commuters using his store as a bus shelter.
While the cost of employing a security guard is an expense Mr Mills cannot afford, he believes the store will need to explore that option.
Doug Clarkson from Country Cakes is also concerned for the financial viability of his businesss.
“Only 24 hours into the new timetable and for the majority of our opening hours we can no longer be seen from the road,” he said.
“We have people waiting for buses blocking our windows, buses arriving and departing every few minutes covering our shop fronts and worst of all continual clusters of travellers standing in our doorways and blocking pedestrian access to our businesses.
“Take it back to the way it was until a solution that doesn’t send us broke can be found.”
Martin Wruck from Games World believes the changes have turned a bad situation into a crisis.
“The scene in front of Toyworld yesterday was incredible,” he said.
“If the council was to follow through with their indicative changes to the position of those stops, the chaos in front of Toyworld will move directly in front of my business.
“Apart from the disastrous effect this would have on my livelihood, the resulting eyesore of bus stops and crowds of commuters blocking footpaths would make the section of Mitchell Street between Hargreaves and Queen impassible for any pedestrian traffic.”
John Pawsey from PHProperty believes the City of Greater Bendigo should employ a bylaw officer to clear the footpath to allow traders to conduct their business.
He said people visiting his real estate agency could not view properties in the window this week and were forced to go inside to do so.
“Not only is Mitchell Street totally ridiculous, it’s also going to create all sorts of behaviour issues and footpath obstruction,” he said.