Advocacy group Victoria Walks looked at bus stops across the state in an investigation entitled 'Getting to the Bus Stop'. The situation faced by regional bus users is disappointing, according to Victoria Walks executive officer Dr Ben Rossiter.

"Regional bus users are getting a raw deal," Dr Rossiter said.

Victoria Walks discovered shelters are almost twice as common in Melbourne, found at 29 per cent of stops, compared to rural areas, found at 16 per cent of stops.

Wendouree resident Bernadette Cheesman is conscious of the lack of shelters and seats at bus stops.

"Being on your feet for an extended period of time on a bad day, I get very wonky," Ms Cheesman said.

"You need to sit down. I think there are a lot of folks out there in that situation."

In addition, Victoria Walks discovered 56 per cent of regional bus stops are wheelchair accessible compared to 65 per cent of metropolitan stops.

The study acknowledged, while most bus stops have concrete surfaces, 23 per cent of regional stops were left as grass or soil, more than twice the rate in Melbourne.

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Inadequate lighting also poses danger from Ms Cheesman's perspective.

"Street lighting down Gillies Street, once you start heading out to the overpass, basically becomes non-existent," she said.

"Some light at bus stops so you could get out and orient yourself (would be beneficial)."

The Victoria Walks study found 60 per cent of audited bus stops were on higher speed roads.

Ms Cheesman is aware of the dangers posed by busy roads near stops.

"With Grevillea Road, people treat it like a country road. They go at a speed they think they can get away with," she said.

More than one third - 36 per cent - of the audited bus stops did not have pram ramps or even a driveway within 50 metres.

"Everyone should be able to get to the bus safely and comfortably, but that's not the case," Dr Rossiter said.

Ms Cheesman possesses many further concerns about Ballarat's bus stops. One relates to the number of incorrect timetables and scheduling issues.

"At Ballarat Station, there are at least three timetables which are completely incorrect," Ms Cheesman said.

"(Also) buses can go through (bus stops) early. You have to be there early in case the bus goes (through)."

Ms Cheesman believes distances between stops create difficulties. She is aware of the Number 12 bus route lacking stops on the journey along Creswick Road. She also knows of a family, consisting of a pregnant mother with three children and another one in a pram, trying to get from Cornwall Street to Gillies Street's #12 bus stop, a distance of over four kilometres.

"Major streets, like Norman Street, need more stops," Ms Cheesman said

"I'd hate to be someone on a wheele or a mother pushing a pram."

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said great public transport should work as an extension of walking.

"(Everyone should have) the freedom to walk out your front door and get to your destination with nothing more than a Myki card," Mr Morton said.

"But right now, that walk from home to the local bus stop is often just the first of many barriers we put in the way of people using public transport."

The report recommends crossing facilities and footpath connections at new or upgraded bus stops should be provided; the state government should create a fund for retrofitting pedestrian crossings and kerb ramps at highly-used bus stops; and the federal government should fund improvements to meet disability legislation requirements.

"If the government really wants more people catching buses, then they must ensure people can actually get to a bus stop," Dr Rossiter said.

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