By ALESHA CAPONE
HUNDREDS of bus shelters across the West have been smashed and vandalised across the past 17 months.
Figures exclusively obtained by Star reveal 770 bus stop glass panels required repairing last year, across Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Wyndham.
During the first five months of this year, another 417 have also been smashed and repaired across the four municipalities.
Brimbank recorded the most damage, with 600 repairs needed, followed by Wyndham with more than 280, Hobsons Bay on 183 and 120 in Maribyrnong.
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) could not disclose the amount paid to fix the shelters due to commercial confidentiality.
PTV has a contract with the company Adshel to clean and repair bus shelters, in 21 municipalities across metropolitan Melbourne.
“Vandalism of any transport infrastructure is a serious concern and we encourage the community to report antisocial behaviour to the police,” a Public Transport Victoria spokesperson said.
Despite the numerous vandalism incidents, the PTV spokesperson said glass was the best material for constructing bus stops, as it meant drivers could see waiting passengers, it provided better shelter than mesh and was easier to clean graffiti off, compared to perspex.
“In the past we have attempted to build bus shelters with materials such as perspex, mesh and steel, but glass has proven to be the better option,” they said.
A member of the Keilor Traders Association, Joe Marino, said bus shelters in the shopping area were being smashed on a monthly basis during 2011, but only “once or twice” this year.
Mr Marino said it was important to work with the young offenders and their families, to help them overcome the reasons behind this behaviour.
“These kids who are doing it, they are doing it for a reason, they don’t just wake up and say, ‘let’s go smash bus shelters’,” he said.
President of the Public Transport Users Association in Melbourne, Daniel Bowen, said offenders who damaged bus shelters were inconveniencing commuters.
“Obviously damaged bus shelters could well be unusable, and given the wind and rain over winter, could mean a cold wet wait for passengers at bus stops,” he said.
Damaged bus shelters can be reported to the Adshel hotline on 1800 501 402.
