Poor public transport in Pimpama a detriment to the elderly and disabled

ONE of the northern Gold Coast’s busiest and longest roads has just two bus stops — with its newest shopping centre development opening without any public transport. And locals have had enough. TAKE OUR POLL

RESIDENTS in the northern Gold Coast are having to pay for cabs to get to buses because the designated stops are spread too far for the injured or elderly.

The heavy-congested suburb of Pimpama has only two bus stops and TransLink has told drivers not to pick up passengers who hail for a ride.

Pimpama locals are outraged at the poor public transport along the now heavily developed Yawalpah Road and are demanding a bus stop at the busy Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre. Picture Glenn Hampson

To make matters worse, the new shopping centre in the area opened without a bus stop, meaning passengers have to walk 2.2km to the nearest drop off.

The only two bus stops in Pimpama are at the intersection of Swan Rd and Yawalpah Rd and Depot Rd, towards Ormeau.

Coomera woman Nikki Monson, 27, relies on public transport after a knee injury meant she could not drive.

The single mum of a 14-month-old daughter does her shopping at Woolworths at Pimpama Junction and said she had to pay for a taxi as the only bus stop along the road was too far to walk.

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Pimpama local Jaydan Rufus, 20, who has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound said the lack of stops was detrimental to those living with a disability who relied on public transport. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Taxis cost too much and that’s my only option as I am unable to walk far with my knee,” she said.
“There are also older people who need to get to the shops and can’t because of the lack of bus stops, it’s a big issue.”

Pimpama man Jaydan Rufus, 20, has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound.

“It is a big issue for locals,” he said. “This impacts on the charge in my wheelchair as I have to go such a far distance to catch a bus.”

Mr Rufus started an online petition to turn Yawalpah Rd into a “hail and ride” route.

But TransLink say it is unsafe to have drivers stopping at undesignated bus stops.

Area councillor Cameron Caldwell said the council had earmarked two sites for potential bus stops — one on Dixon Drive adjacent to Pimpama Junction and one directly outside the shopping centre — and urged Minister Mark Bailey to follow through on the funding and construction.

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Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he had been made aware of ongoing public transport issues near Yawalpah Road at Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre.

“My Department is actively developing a safe and accessible solution as a priority,” he said.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said TransLink was investigating improvements to the bus network in the area, but would not commit to building more stops.

When further questioned, the spokesman said often developers were required to fund the provision of appropriate bus stops for large retail or residential developments, but would not confirm whether this was a condition of Pimpama Junction.