Vandalised bus shelters repaired at huge cost
VANDALISED BUS SHELTERS REPAIRED AT HUGE COST
Repair work to vandalised GO GEORGE bus shelters is currently in process all over town after a budget provision of R1,3 million has been made available by the George Municipality for this purpose.
Of the 124 shelters already put up at bus stops, 92% have been damaged structurally by breaking the glass or laminate panels, while vinyl stickers with passenger information inside the shelters need to be replaced continuously when torn down or defaced by graffiti.
The glass side panel of the bus shelters seem to be targeted most by vandals. After extensive research and testing, an even stronger, shatterproof glass is now being used in replacements, as well as in new shelters being erected. The glass panels were chosen for safety reasons to ensure visibility of passengers inside the shelter, as well as passengers’ need to see oncoming buses.
If all goes according to plan, the current repair work will be completed before winter sets in, to provide shelter during cold and wet weather conditions. The budget does not make provision for new damage, which has to be discouraged and curbed at all cost.
Call for public’s help
GO GEORGE Manager, James Robb, says the community’s support is needed to help turn around the habit of destruction. “By vandalising and damaging these structures, the culprits deprive their own communities of the facilities. Investigation, putting out tenders and executing repair work on damaged shelters take time, and until this is concluded, passengers are the victims who are inconvenienced and exposed to the elements,” he said. “The same goes for the senseless stoning of GO GEORGE buses. Taking buses out of service for repairs reduces the level of service we are aiming to provide, when passengers have to wait longer for their bus to arrive or have to use a bus carrying more passengers than they feel safe to join.”
George Acting Municipal Manager, Dr Michelle Gratz, has spoken out strongly against this criminal conduct. “Three men have been arrested recently after being caught red-handed, breaking the rear window of a bus. The Municipality has a zero-tolerance approach to criminality, but we need the public to come forward if they have information that can help us bring these perpetrators to justice. Take a photo if you can, and please phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre at 0800 044 044 with information about what happened, where and when it happened, and who did it.”
CAPTION:
The glass side panel of the bus shelters seem to be targeted most by vandals. Here, workers are replacing glass panels at a bus stop in Knysna Road. After extensive research and testing, a stronger, shatterproof glass is now being used in replacements, as well as in new shelters being erected.
GEVANDALISEERDE BUSSKUILINGS HERSTEL TEEN GROOT KOSTE
Herstelwerk aan gevandaliseerde GO GEORGE-busskuilings is tans oral in die dorp aan die gang nadat ‘n begrotingsvoorsiening van R1,3 miljoen vir dié doel deur die George-munisipaliteit beskikbaar gestel is.
Van die 124 skuilings wat reeds by bushaltes opgerig is, is 92% struktureel beskadig deur die glas of gelamineerde panele te breek, terwyl vinielplakkers met passasiersinligting binne die skuilings voortdurend vervang moet word wanneer dit deur graffiti bederf of afgeskeur word.
Die glas-kantpaneel van die busskuilings blyk die meeste geteiken te word deur vandale. Ná uitgebreide navorsing en toetsing word ‘n nog sterker, breekvaste glas nou in vervangings gebruik, asook in nuwe skuilings wat opgerig word. Die glaspanele is om veiligheidsredes gekies om sigbaarheid van passasiers in die skuiling te verseker, asook om passasiers in staat te stel om aankomende busse te sien.
As alles volgens plan verloop, sal die huidige herstelwerk voltooi word voordat die winter begin om skuiling te verskaf tydens koue en nat weerstoestande. Die begroting maak nie voorsiening vir nuwe skade nie, wat ten alle koste ontmoedig en bekamp moet word.
Oproep vir publiek se hulp
GO GEORGE-bestuurder James Robb sê die gemeenskap se ondersteuning is nodig om te help om die gewoonte van vernietiging en vernielsug om te keer. “Deur hierdie strukture te vandaliseer en te beskadig, ontneem die skuldiges hul eie gemeenskappe van die fasiliteite. Om ondersoeke, die uitgee van tenders en herstelwerk aan beskadigde skuilings uit te voer, neem tyd, en totdat dit afgehandel is, is passasiers die slagoffers wat ongerief verduur en blootgestel word aan die elemente,” het hy gesê. “Dieselfde geld vir die sinnelose klipgooiery na GO GEORGE-busse. Om busse uit diens te neem vir herstelwerk verminder die vlak van diens wat ons poog om te voorsien wanneer passasiers langer moet wag vir hul bus om op te daag, of ‘n bus te moet gebruik wat meer passasiers dra as wat hulle veilig voel om mee saam te ry.”
George se waarnemende munisipale bestuurder, dr Michelle Gratz, het haar sterk uitgespreek teen hierdie kriminele gedrag. “Drie mans is onlangs in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle op heterdaad betrap is terwyl hulle die agterste venster van ‘n bus breek. Die munisipaliteit het ‘n zero-verdraagsaamheidsbeleid teenoor misdaad, maar ons het die publiek nodig om na vore te kom as hulle inligting het wat ons kan help om hierdie oortreders aan die pen te laat ry. Neem ‘n foto as jy kan, en skakel asseblief die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 met inligting oor wat gebeur het, waar en wanneer dit gebeur het, en wie het dit gedoen.”
Byskrif:
Die glas-kantpaneel van die busskuilings blyk die meeste geteiken word deur vandale. Hier vervang werkers glaspanele by ‘n bushalte in Knysnaweg. Ná uitgebreide navorsing en toetsing word ‘n sterker, breekvaste glas nou in vervangings gebruik, asook in nuwe skuilings wat opgerig word.