ON SUNDAY MORNING, while waiting on a bus in the Fairchild Street Terminal, I used the opportunity to assess the terminal’s condition to see ways in which, if given the opportunity, I could improve the experience of commuters.
I hadn’t been in the terminal for some time and as I looked around, my heart sank; I just shook my head.
Seriously, how can you treat people this way? The public aren’t just voters, they are human beings with feelings and genuine needs.
No. 1: There are 16 gates available to board the bus and directly opposite each gate is one bench; yes, one single bench. Each bench can comfortably seat four average sized adults, giving a total of 16 benches and seating for a maximum of 64 adults. If 43 parking spaces being provided for 80 units at The Grotto project are unacceptable and causing challenges, please tell me how someone could approve seating for only 64 people when probably thousands frequent the terminal daily?
On my return to the terminal in the evening, I made sure to travel with a measuring tape. The seating space is approximately 172 x 135 inches and each bench measures about 71 x 22 inches. There is enough space available for at least three rows and two columns of benches per sitting area with a separating isle of 20 inches between each column and 24 inches between each row.
That would be seating for 24 per gate, giving the terminal seating for at least 384. Before exiting the back door of the terminal (leading to the River Van Stand), there are two vacant spaces that could hold another ten benches (40 additional seats); that would take the total to 424 available seats – a huge difference from 64.
No. 2: There are 16 supporting concrete columns in the terminal. On four of them are four industrial fans for ventilation, none of which was on. Each of the fans was completely rusted with sections of the protective grills missing.
This is a hazard. Pieces of the fan could fall off and injure persons and also bits of rust and rust particles are circulated in the air when the fans are on. It cannot be healthy breathing in that stuff.
Since the terminal is next to the sea, I assume the salt in the air caused the corrosion. If that’s the case, then plastic fans should be used or the fans should be sprayed with some coating to minimise or slow down the corrosion.
Additionally, four fans aren’t sufficient to cool down the terminal. Since there are 16 columns, there should be at least 16 fans. Also, all four fans are facing a south-south-easterly direction (where persons cue to board the bus). This means that those sitting on the opposite side where the benches are, can’t benefit from the breeze.
No. 3: Immediately in front of the benches on the ground is bird stool. If you look above the area, there is a horizontal steel beam where birds perch. This should not be allowed. Commuters are likely to have their clothes soiled from the numerous birds that are perched on the beam. There are numerous options and various methods available that could be used to prevent birds from perching on that area. This would greatly decrease the amount of mess on the floor as well as the number of schoolchildren and working people having their clothing soiled.
I will stop for now because of space, but this is totally unacceptable. This I know, that once given the opportunity and resources, through my NGO, I will solve some of our nation’s problems. The people deserve better.
Meanwhile, I want to publicly commend Transport Board bus driver Reuben Reid for his service. When I got on the bus he greeted me with a “good morning” and when I asked him a question with regards to my journey, he was very respectful and mannerly.
Additionally, the bus ride, speed, cornering and stopping were all smooth; so smooth that I was able to work on my laptop without any difficulty. There are many more like Mr Reid, but there are some bad apples who are unmannerly and drive the buses with no care or regard for passenger safety or comfort. I can only encourage them to take a leaf out of Reuben Reid’s book.
Corey Worrell, a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, is director of C2J Foundation Inc., a project-based NGO focusing on social development. Email: coreyworrell@gmail.com