EDITORIAL: Take care of our new buses
Just recently, we have heard that the deployment of thirty-three brand new electric buses, along with the fifty-nine units operating in the Transport Augmentation Programme and the current diesel fleet, will significantly increase bus availability and ease the difficulties that commuters currently face in obtaining transport, on a daily basis.
Word of this came from Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Ian Gooding Edghill as the new fleet of electric buses were put into operation, after arriving on the island on July 8, 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and being removed from the Barbados Port on July 10 to be inspected, weighed and licensed.
Minister Ian Gooding Edghill meanwhile has urged the travelling public to take care of the new buses, which come at a cost of $45 million.
He says Barbadians should treat them like their own; enjoy the ride, protect and care for them. Indeed, the buses are luxurious. Passengers can ride in air-conditioned comfort, access WiFi services and the disabled are also accommodated on these new electric buses.
To date, we have heard that the buses will not only aid Government in attaining key goals in its National Energy Policy, but they will aid Government in keeping its commitment to achieve sustainable energy by 2030. It has also been noted by the new Transport Minister, that significant cost savings are now anticipated with the rolling out of the new fleet. It is anticipated he said, that there will be significant savings in fuel costs and maintenance costs, coupled with a reduction in carbon emissions, as the electric buses do not carry as many moving parts and are fume free. He also noted that based on information provided by the Transport Board, had the Government purchased thirty-three diesel buses instead of electric buses, the fuel cost to operate the diesel units would be $264 000 per month or $3.16 million per year.
Given that the buses will help to replace a number of those put out of commission due to their age, Barbadians must be encouraged not to deface, damage or destroy any aspect of these new ones. If push comes to shove, there should be harsh penalties for those who damage them in any way. Barbadians have suffered long enough in not having an adequate bus service and now they should be able to reap some of the sweets, all whilst paying their dues to ensure that the buses are well maintained.
In many international countries, the bus service is reliable and bus rides are enjoyable for those visiting the country. Many persons who have visited the United Kingdom for example, will tell you about the excellent bus service provided there, as there is a system in place to allow commuters to track when the buses will arrive and most of them are well kept. It is now our turn to work to ensure that we get our bus service up to scratch and make it the envy amongst those in the Caribbean. We certainly can now boast of having the largest fleet of electric buses in the Caribbean region and we should be able to boast in the years to come, that those amongst this fleet and the others to come on stream, are kept in good condition.