It with complete sadness, that as President of the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group, I have to report of Westbus's decision to complete cut bus routes 759 and 780, due to anti-social behaviors.
Today, we are as group, representatives for the transport users of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs, have recently taken the approach of 'making a difference' with improvements in public transport and were moving in on the way of doing this. It has taken us along time to get where we are today. This anti-social behavior has us placed in a set back mode. In fact, it places us back to 'Go' , in some ways. Yet I will not falter or take this to falter our group we will persist to improved the public transport services so that there is a safer commuting community.
Personally, I, my group members and I'm sure the majority feel for each bus driver affected and the one that these bus driver talk too as well. We do not all want to place bus drivers into a discomfort mood. Really what most of us need and want, is drivers to travel safely with commuters to each and every destination. This is where all transport officers, unionists,Government ministers and ministry offices need to look at what is needed in Mount Druitt. it is there in plain black and white - we need double (or even triple) the amount of police officers we have in Mount Druitt at least.
Mount Druitt in the past has been noted as highly crime area, yet there are other areas that have a high crime rate and yet when it comes to bad news Mount Druitt gets the front page - when it comes to goodness it is on the back page so-to-say. We are a pro-active group and if one or more minority members of the community do not care of the cancellation of bus services in and around Mount Druitt, then we may expect more to come! I personally will accept 'Zero tolerance' on these anti-social behaviors. The community should not suffer for what these people do - but when bus drivers suffer, their lives are at great risk and the government bodies, private companies and transport decision makers have to think of safety of employees. This then leaves communities asking questions like : Why are we all affected by the cancelled services? What made this person do this? How is this driver coping? Why wasn't issues like this picked up before by all authorities, to prevent to happen? Why haven't we had better security on buses before at night? When are these services coming back to us? How will we cope?
I'm pretty sure on different blogs I have requested security guards on buses at night, which will be a great change of benefit to the bus drivers and also to the community. The short long-term issue will be that the end result is the end users costs will go up.This is where I don't get the expression ' Crime doesn't pay!' For the community there will be extra bus fees that will be asked to be paid for - we all pay for the bus services.
Some of feel upset over what has happened and hope that crime does goes right through the criminal justice system and doesn't bypass and other processes. Whilst we advocate for the goodness of commuters we condone the violence, threats made to attempt murder for crime that may have lead to stealing a small amount of cash from the bus driver. We do want the punishment to fit the crime, so the that this persons action can be shown as a great lesson for the prevent of future possible crime(s). In other words, use the criminal court results to show how this should not be done.
Here is the story on the Westbus website:
click here: http://www.cdcbus.com.au/Service-Announcement.html
Here is the breaking news on the Mount Druitt Standard:
Click her: http://mt-druitt-standard.whereilive.com.au/news/story/machete-attack-on-whalan-bus-driver/
We are still waiting advice from Busways whether their services will be affected - will keep you advised.
Today, we are as group, representatives for the transport users of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs, have recently taken the approach of 'making a difference' with improvements in public transport and were moving in on the way of doing this. It has taken us along time to get where we are today. This anti-social behavior has us placed in a set back mode. In fact, it places us back to 'Go' , in some ways. Yet I will not falter or take this to falter our group we will persist to improved the public transport services so that there is a safer commuting community.
Personally, I, my group members and I'm sure the majority feel for each bus driver affected and the one that these bus driver talk too as well. We do not all want to place bus drivers into a discomfort mood. Really what most of us need and want, is drivers to travel safely with commuters to each and every destination. This is where all transport officers, unionists,Government ministers and ministry offices need to look at what is needed in Mount Druitt. it is there in plain black and white - we need double (or even triple) the amount of police officers we have in Mount Druitt at least.
Mount Druitt in the past has been noted as highly crime area, yet there are other areas that have a high crime rate and yet when it comes to bad news Mount Druitt gets the front page - when it comes to goodness it is on the back page so-to-say. We are a pro-active group and if one or more minority members of the community do not care of the cancellation of bus services in and around Mount Druitt, then we may expect more to come! I personally will accept 'Zero tolerance' on these anti-social behaviors. The community should not suffer for what these people do - but when bus drivers suffer, their lives are at great risk and the government bodies, private companies and transport decision makers have to think of safety of employees. This then leaves communities asking questions like : Why are we all affected by the cancelled services? What made this person do this? How is this driver coping? Why wasn't issues like this picked up before by all authorities, to prevent to happen? Why haven't we had better security on buses before at night? When are these services coming back to us? How will we cope?
I'm pretty sure on different blogs I have requested security guards on buses at night, which will be a great change of benefit to the bus drivers and also to the community. The short long-term issue will be that the end result is the end users costs will go up.This is where I don't get the expression ' Crime doesn't pay!' For the community there will be extra bus fees that will be asked to be paid for - we all pay for the bus services.
Some of feel upset over what has happened and hope that crime does goes right through the criminal justice system and doesn't bypass and other processes. Whilst we advocate for the goodness of commuters we condone the violence, threats made to attempt murder for crime that may have lead to stealing a small amount of cash from the bus driver. We do want the punishment to fit the crime, so the that this persons action can be shown as a great lesson for the prevent of future possible crime(s). In other words, use the criminal court results to show how this should not be done.
Here is the story on the Westbus website:
click here: http://www.cdcbus.com.au/Service-Announcement.html
Westbus Service Restrictions Route 759 & 780
15 March, 2011Due to an assault of a Bus Driver in the Whalan area on Monday night, the St Marys Bus Depot services were temporarily suspended today. To resolve the situation, Westbus is holding urgent discussions with the Drivers Union.In the meantime, Route 759 and 780 services between Ropes Crossing and Mt Druitt will be restricted until further notice.These services will not operate beyond Ropes Crossing, affecting: Willmot, Emerton, Lethbridge Park and Whalan areas.The Route 759 & 780 service restrictions will affect the School Bus passengers on these routes.We regret any inconvenience caused.
Here is the breaking news on the Mount Druitt Standard:
Click her: http://mt-druitt-standard.whereilive.com.au/news/story/machete-attack-on-whalan-bus-driver/
We are still waiting advice from Busways whether their services will be affected - will keep you advised.
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