DARE WE HOPE that the six-month PSV/Transport Board pilot project scheduled to begin in November will finally bring some order to our public transport system? It’s clear that a system where the Transport Board continues to haemorrhage and be propped up by loans from the NIS and other sources can’t continue indefinitely.
I agree with Mr Morris Lee’s comment some time ago that with the 550 PSVs and the number of idle buses at the board’s headquarters, they could work together to ensure the board did not have to import a single new bus. I commend Minister Lashley for taking this collaborative experiment forward. Hopefully the routes will be shared so that everyone can make a profit. Maybe eventually this could lead to a completely privatised system.
But, of course, while this plan looks good on paper, the implementation isn’t that easy. As the minister noted, if the private sector is involved in public transportation, they have to comply with the Road Traffic Act. Therein lies the challenge. Will the authorities bite the bullet this time and stringently enforce regulations to control the PSVs who’ve continually demonstrated that they’re laws unto themselves? We continue to seema complete disregard of rules pertaining to music, behaviour, dress and so on.
Not to mention of course, the habitual breaking of diverse traffic regulations. There’s the creeping at a snail’s pace so conductors can run down side roads to attract passengers, stopping and starting without signals, stopping any and everywhere, starting off with a vehicle abreast of them, those passing in opposite directions stopping to change money for each other, and more recently stopping for the conductor to run into a restaurant to buy a drink or food.
So it’s clear there would have to be a stringent monitoring and policing system, ensuring that buses cover their entire routes and don’t leave passengers stranded. Measures like GPS systems demonstrated by a local company, which the minister mentioned were successfully used in Mexico, will have to be an integral part of the monitoring. But of course, proper manning of these systems will be just as important as the systems themselves. The payment of a basic wage to drivers and conductors may also alleviate the problem of the “hustling” that currently obtains.
Proper bus schedules must be adhered to. You hear people saying they can’t understand why a bus doesn’t leave the terminal if it’s full – another example of Bajan indiscipline. It’s obvious that if this happens the bus will probably reach its next stop before the appointed time and the entire schedule will be disrupted.
Then there’s the follow through on infringements identified by the monitoring system. Heavy penalties like loss of permits must be imposed as well as locking of wheels until fines are paid. The announced proposals to put the powers of prosecution into the hands of transport inspectors may also bear fruit if it’s done in a fair and professional way.
The police constantly ask for the public’s cooperation in crime prevention/detection and traffic violations. There’s even a police traffic hotline. I’ve certainly reported a number of blatant PSV infringements via the hotline, but always wonder if there is any follow up. Perhaps the commissioner can tell us what form this follow-up takes.
But then again, it’s rumoured that a number of these PSVs are owned by policemen and politicians, so that introduces doubt that any action will be taken. Furthermore, some of the drivers would have to be born again for their behaviour to improve, so it’s better to start fresh – maybe even change the plates from ZR. I note that permits will be put to tender. If the whole process is transparent, we should see a great improvement.
Of course, a collaborative system would also need some consideration for vulnerable groups like pensioners and the poor. The social welfare department must put in place a proper arrangement for paying fares for this group. Whether the free arrangement should continue for schoolchildren is a matter for debate.
Finally, there always seems to be some confusion over the repairs of Government-owned buses and Weymouth is a veritable “bus graveyard”. The sooner an effective solution to this problem is found, the better.
I eagerly await the rollout of this pilot project and sincerely hope it succeeds.
Dr Frances Chandler is a former independent senator. Email: [email protected].
