Is mall bus stop safe?

Photo: hankstruckpictures.com

Vernon's mayor questions the safety of customers at the Village Green Centre who are taking the bus and then having to cut across the parking lot to get inside.

Council was told Monday that the temporary bus stops on 48th Avenue were to be made permanent. The bus stop used to sit just outside the west entrance to the mall but was moved early in the year after BC Transit cited safety concerns.

Council has no say in the matter because the mall is on private land.

However, councillors are sending yet another letter to the mall's owners, Bentall Kennedy, to express disappointment with the company's position on the matter and the removal of the original stop on mall land.

“We are not happy that the residents of our community are going to have to walk across a parking lot, through vehicles pulling in and out,” said Mayor Akbal Mund. “How they consider that to be safe for their own customers I have no clue.

“I know they said it was unsafe having the bus stop where it was but I just wonder how safe they feel it is having seniors and elderly people walk across that whole parking lot to get to the bus now.”

An attempt was made to reach a land swap deal with the Village Green Centre for construction of a bus pullout on 48th.

The mall's management decided “it was not something they wished to pursue at this time,” said a report to city council. “As such, BC Transit is drafting a press release informing users that the temporary bus stops on 48th Avenue will now become permanent.”