Transportation
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable etc.
In Guyana, transportation is a major issue among many commuters. When commuters complain, the authorities place notices in the newspapers, informing the public that fare increases have not been approved, advising commuters not to pay the increased fares. However, not paying the requested fares may result in an assault on the commuter or him/her being left stranded. To avoid this, commuters quietly pay up.
Another example of the broken system is, the crowds of commuters who assemble at the bus parks and along the minibus routes every morning and night, sometimes long after dark, including schoolchildren and the elderly, waiting to be picked up by a minibus. Fights often break out at the minibus parks, exposing young childeren and making them vulnerable to injury.
When a bus eventually arrives, there is a “stampede” as commuters try to get onto the bus, only to be told that they have to pay double or three times the regular fare. It is a take-it-or-leave-it situation, because there is someone waiting behind you who is willing to pay that price. If you refuse to pay, you may be stuck there for most of the night, if not for the whole night. Apart from the high fares charged, the buses travelling to the different destinations are not easy to tell apart, as buses travelling in the same general direction have the same numbers and designations, although their final destinations may be different. Although this may not be a problem for commuters who daily travel the same route, it may present a challenge for those not familiar with the setup.
There is also the question of speeding, which often results in serious or fatal accidents. A minibus is more likely to end up in an accident than a private vehicle, simply because of the carelessness displayed by the drivers.
There is clearly a need to ensure that
In Guyana, transportation is a major issue among many commuters. When commuters complain, the authorities place notices in the newspapers, informing the public that fare increases have not been approved, advising commuters not to pay the increased fares. However, not paying the requested fares may result in an assault on the commuter or him/her being left stranded. To avoid this, commuters quietly pay up.
Another example of the broken system is, the crowds of commuters who assemble at the bus parks and along the minibus routes every morning and night, sometimes long after dark, including schoolchildren and the elderly, waiting to be picked up by a minibus. Fights often break out at the minibus parks, exposing young childeren and making them vulnerable to injury.
When a bus eventually arrives, there is a “stampede” as commuters try to get onto the bus, only to be told that they have to pay double or three times the regular fare. It is a take-it-or-leave-it situation, because there is someone waiting behind you who is willing to pay that price. If you refuse to pay, you may be stuck there for most of the night, if not for the whole night. Apart from the high fares charged, the buses travelling to the different destinations are not easy to tell apart, as buses travelling in the same general direction have the same numbers and designations, although their final destinations may be different. Although this may not be a problem for commuters who daily travel the same route, it may present a challenge for those not familiar with the setup.
There is also the question of speeding, which often results in serious or fatal accidents. A minibus is more likely to end up in an accident than a private vehicle, simply because of the carelessness displayed by the drivers.
There is clearly a need to ensure that