Supervisor Jursik Introduces Resolution to Restore Bus Access to Malls

Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik has introduced an ordinance that would require shopping malls to provide full bus access to their main entrances. The measure was introduced after numerous attempts to convince Southridge Mall management to re-establish bus service to the mall’s main entrance.

Southridge management moved its bus stop to the mall from one of its main entrances to a stop 1,000 ft. away in November, citing safety concerns.

“If we allow Southridge to get away with this blatant discrimination against bus riders – many of whom are elderly or disabled – how can we be sure that other malls won’t follow suit?” Jursik said. “We need to ensure that our bus riders have equal access not only to Southridge, but to all malls and public facilities in Milwaukee County.

“This resolution will address the injustice created by mall owners like Indianapolis-based Simon Properties, owners of Southridge, and create penalties for discriminating against bus riders by forcing them to use a bus stop far from the main entrance.”

The resolution states that owners of shopping centers routinely allow trucks and large delivery vehicles to access their properties. The resolution states that disorderly conduct would include interfering with any Milwaukee County transit bus, including pickup or discharge of passengers, on any roadway or parking lot that is held out for use of the general public for vehicular travel or on any roadway or parking lot made available to delivery vehicles of 20,000 lbs. gross weight.

“This ordinance would not only affect Southridge, but any other shopping center that engages in such outrageous discrimination against the elderly and disabled,” Jursik said. “Everyone should have equal access to our shopping centers and other public facilities. Huge delivery trucks use the mall parking lot. Why not buses?

“It is shameful that we have come to this point, but Southridge management has done nothing but stonewall on this issue while elderly and disabled people trudge through a hazardous parking lot. Something has to be done to get Southridge management’s attention, and this resolution will make their decision a more costly one until they restore the bus stop near the mall entrance.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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