“ Kate W:
I'm talking about repurposing part of the vast car park, which is usually at least half empty, to create a proper bus station or at least turning facilities for at least one northbound bus to call, along with a wider access road. As this would be a major redesign, on balance I support this 'interim' measure of a new bus stop in the proposed location, even though I would prefer TfL to keep the existing bus stop as well.
You might not personally find it difficult to walk to the bus stop from the station (from what you have written, I am not persuaded that you are in the habit of making this journey), but as someone who makes this journey regularly (and used to every day), I know that I'm not the only one who finds it incredibly difficult and inconvenient.
The bus stop is in precisely the wrong place, whether you turn right or left as you exit the station (even with the new lower exit). The worst thing is that the traffic lights across Barnet Hill nearest the lower access road have absolutely no pedestrian priority - now you can wait up to a minute for the lights to change when up until about ten years ago, the lights used to change instantly when you pressed the button (like the ones outside Cockfosters station still do).
Say your train comes in on platforms 2 or 3, first you have to walk up the stairs, then down again and all the way along Platform 1 to the lower exit. Then you have to dodge cars dropping people off to get to the narrow access road pavement, which takes you further south in the wrong direction. Then you have to turn right and walk back on yourself uphill to reach the crossing. Then as I say, you can either wait for up to a minute there or risk your life running across Barnet Hill through gaps in traffic as you desperately try to make your bus. Once you cross it's more uphill trudging, including have to cross Milton Avenue and having your path blocked by cars waiting to turn into Barnet Hill. Once you've waited for them all to clear it's yet more uphill walking, until you've finally reached the stop. Your bus has definitely sailed past while you were still walking, and it's more than five minutes since you got off the train.
The alternative, turning right as you exit the station, is no less lengthy and hazardous. First you have to have the stamina to brave the steep access path to Meadway. Once you've got to the top, the railings guide you in the wrong direction down Meadway to the crossing. Then once the lights have finally changed, you can only cross as far as a traffic island before being confronted with another timed crossing across Barnet Hill. Once you have finally reached the correct side of the hill, you have to walk back on yourself south. Then wait for all the cars to clear from Bedford Avenue, before finally walking back on yourself some more, down the hill to the bus stop. This route has been even longer than the other one, and the bus you were trying to get is definitely somewhere much further up Barnet High Street by now.
Anyone with reduced mobility or using a wheelchair who thought they could take advantage of the step free access within the station itself, will find it impossible to get to the bus stop to continue their journey. I know that some people use stations as far as East Finchley because this connection is so difficult! So something needs to be done to improve matters, it's just a question of what, when and how. ”