Transportation legislation needs more attention – Umoja show
One of the panellists related during the show that the issue of transportation difficulties had arisen recently with someone who had just returned from the United Kingdom (UK).
Ms Drusilla Fahie, who was one of the guests on the show along with fellow National Youth Policy committee member Ms Xavyrna Samuels-Fahie, related that a young man had indicated that while he was in the UK, it was easy to transit to all parts of England, but once he came home he would be at “the poor house” because he had difficulty getting from West End to Road Town without his own vehicle.
Host of the show Mr Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka then suggested that persons needed vehicles but quickly added “if you’re young you can’t drive”.
One of the panellists offered the example of someone living in West End that worked at the airport as an Air Traffic Controller and asked how someone would get to their job on time for 5 A. M. if they are in a situation where their parents don’t drive.
It was agreed that young people often turned to riding scooters as a result of this difficulty as it was more cost effective and persons were able to ride from the age of fifteen. However, the accompanying noise pollution and the relative callousness of some scooter riders were also of some concern.
They also indicated that having the transportation issue being written into the National Youth Policy was something that was being considered.
The issue of legislation being implemented for placing bus stops along various routes in Tortola was also discussed and it was noted that funding may have thwarted the exercise to some degree.
Mr Smith suggested that there was some amount of progress in having bus stop signs placed since there were none previously in addition to legislation accompanying same and expressed that these needed to be advanced.
“It’s an improvement in that you have regulations governing what buses can’t do, what taxes can’t do and what livery can’t do and you have bus stops where they’re supposed to stop and pick up people," he said, "so it needs to be enforced, the bus stops need to be strategically placed [and] routes need to be developed so that you have regular transportation going through the various communities…”
He also added that bus stop shelters need to be installed so that when it rains persons don’t get wet waiting on buses to pick them up.
Persons around the island regularly hitchhike to get to various points when they are not in possession of a vehicle.
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14 Responses to “Transportation legislation needs more attention – Umoja show ”
Look, St. Thomas you could get a bus from town to anywhere at all times of day and plenty at night for just one dollar, maybe two for long journeys. They have designated areas where buses can stop - so that's where they stop. No problem with bus doors opening on the wrong side because they are safari-style buses, custom built with exits on the sidewalk side.
This is happening just a few miles next door - and we can't get it together over here?
Somebody please explain why we dance around this issue like is a major problem that can't be solved. It can, easy. WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?