Dear Editor,
As passengers suffer lengthy delays and bus drivers cry, the State-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses enjoy free movement along a section of the Mandela Highway.
The JUTC has recently got a lane dedicated for themselves along the Mandela Highway, during peak hours in the mornings to the disgust of the other motorists.
The "free passage" begins at the Caymanas Bay traffic light and ends at the entrance to Plantation Heights at Six Miles. This however, does not sit well with the other private bus drivers who drive along the route. The drivers argue that, if there is a bus lane, it should be accessible, not only to the JUTC buses but to all buses. They state that the JUTC is already getting financial assistance from the Government and now smooth traffic-less passage on the public road.
Having a bus lane is not new to Jamaica, and in particular Kingston and St Catherine. There is one on Washington Boulevard that is open to both the JUTC and private buses. This has proven to be fair and beneficial to both parties.
This unfair move by the Transport Authority needs to be revised in fairness to private bus drivers and their passengers. The argument is made of the number of JUTC buses taking up space on the highway being a major contributing factor to the traffic pile-up in the morning. However, when one look at buses coming from Spanish Town to Half-Way-Tree and downtown Kingston, etc it adds up to more than the JUTC's buses on the highway.
The thought of easing the traffic on the highway is a good idea, but giving JUTC such an edge is unfair to other bus drivers.
Hezekan Bolton
h_e_z_e@hotmail.com
Unfair JUTC bus lane
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As passengers suffer lengthy delays and bus drivers cry, the State-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses enjoy free movement along a section of the Mandela Highway.
The JUTC has recently got a lane dedicated for themselves along the Mandela Highway, during peak hours in the mornings to the disgust of the other motorists.
The "free passage" begins at the Caymanas Bay traffic light and ends at the entrance to Plantation Heights at Six Miles. This however, does not sit well with the other private bus drivers who drive along the route. The drivers argue that, if there is a bus lane, it should be accessible, not only to the JUTC buses but to all buses. They state that the JUTC is already getting financial assistance from the Government and now smooth traffic-less passage on the public road.
Having a bus lane is not new to Jamaica, and in particular Kingston and St Catherine. There is one on Washington Boulevard that is open to both the JUTC and private buses. This has proven to be fair and beneficial to both parties.
This unfair move by the Transport Authority needs to be revised in fairness to private bus drivers and their passengers. The argument is made of the number of JUTC buses taking up space on the highway being a major contributing factor to the traffic pile-up in the morning. However, when one look at buses coming from Spanish Town to Half-Way-Tree and downtown Kingston, etc it adds up to more than the JUTC's buses on the highway.
The thought of easing the traffic on the highway is a good idea, but giving JUTC such an edge is unfair to other bus drivers.
Hezekan Bolton
h_e_z_e@hotmail.com
Unfair JUTC bus lane
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