Elderly are calling for bus service for Colchester Rd in Yarra Ranges

AN ELDERLY Kilsyth woman refuses to back down on fighting for a bus route along an isolated Yarra Ranges road.

Kay Hull, Barbara Jenkins, Jackie Baker and Anna Kennedy on Colchester Rd. Picture: Stuart Milligan

AN ELDERLY Kilsyth woman refuses to back down on fighting for a bus route along an isolated Yarra Ranges road.

For eight years Barbara Jensen, in her 80s, has been lobbying the State Government which has left a carless community without public transport options.

Mrs Jensen contacted Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader who has teamed up with Yarra Ranges councillors to run the Get us moving campaign for improved public transport across the municipality.

Leader campaign to get the Yarra Ranges moving by lobbying for better bus routes

Mrs Jensen said she was not only fighting for herself but also the elderly community at Walmsley Friendship Village Aged Care also on Colchester Rd — many who have stopped driving.

The ideal two-way bus route would travel from Mooroolbark, down Hawthory Rd, up Colchester Rd and off to Westfield Knox shopping centre.

In 2010, Mrs Jensen rallied almost 500 people to sign a petition calling for the desperately needed bus route.

“Why are we the forgotten people in Kilsyth?” Mrs Jensen said.

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Mrs Jensen said she struggles to get to her exercise class at the Mooroolbark Community Centre because there is no bus.

She said one of the only options was to take a bus to Croydon station and a train to Mooroolbark, which was too difficult.

“I won’t do it (catch the train). I’m in my 80s and I’m afraid to get on the train by myself with my walker,” she said.

Mrs Jensen said over the years she had continuously lobbied State Government public transport ministers, Croydon Liberal MP David Hodgett and Casey Liberal MP Tony Smith.

Last year Mrs Jensen wrote to Transport MP Jacinta Allan and received a letter back, which said a bus was “not on the cards at the moment”.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Len Cox said without a car it proves very difficult to get around.

“As you get older, you can’t always drive,” Cr Cox said.

“Around our municipality public transport isn’t what it should be.”

Leader has contact Mr Hodgett and Ms Allan for comment.