Finding solutions to traffic congestion

According to newspaper reports, efforts are on to tackle the growing issue of traffic congestion in Barbados.

Anna Iannucci of Urban Strategies Inc., a company that is working with the Town & Country Developing Planning Office on the Physical Development Plan amendment, is quoted as stating, “One of the ways in which the traffic congestion concern must be tackled is through changing the mindset of Barbadians, as it relates to the ways they move around the island.”

She notes that great focus is being placed on “mobility and accessibility”, and “rather than trying to get cars around, we are trying to get people around by different modes of transportation. So we can use cars, but also public transportation as well as walking and cycling as forms of transportation”.

Well, we all know that changing mindsets is an uphill task where Barbadians are concerned, but we understand the need for such a suggestion.

Proper planning of routes
Officials from the Ministry of Transport and Works have in the past suggested that “proper planning of routes” could possibly ease traffic congestion. It has been noted that Barbadians who plan their routes ahead of time and set out for their destination a bit earlier could possibly find that traffic congestion is no longer an issue for them, especially on mornings. Clearly, Barbadians have not heeded this advice in full.

Regulating number of cars
Another possible solution offered up has been that of regulating the number of cars on the roads, or the number of cars Barbadians can own.

Of course, this suggestion has not gone down so well with members of the Barbadian public, who view having a car as a key step in their push towards development and bettering themselves.

Park & Ride system
A Park & Ride System was also offered up as a possible solution. It has been suggested that Barbadians may feel better driving to a point and riding in comfortable buses or coaches to get to work. It has been acknowledged that a public/private partnership could be established to facilitate the Park & Ride concept and that the installation of key satellite stations could bring revenue by way of shops and parking fees etc., which could make the project attractive. However, this is yet to get off the ground.

Flexible hours
What I would suggest though is that the authorities look once again at the concept of flexi-time. By implementing flexible hours or flexi-time schemes, an employee for example could work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rather than from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. By staggering the hours, employees can arrive at different times in the morning and leave at different times on evenings, and this would certainly ease traffic congestion.

By introducing a more flexible working arrangement, more employees can avoid rush-hour traffic and achieve a better work-life balance as well.

Employers may also see fewer cases of absenteeism and lateness. And whilst one may argue, how fair is it that one employee gets to come in later as opposed to another, let us consider that the early employee gets to leave early and the late one doesn’t. And if it really becomes an issue, then employers can switch around the flexi hours for all employees concerned, so no one can raise the issue of “unfairness”, with regards to who gets what hours. But certainly, some people may find that they function better as early birds and prefer that schedule, whilst others may opt for a later day. It is a worth a try.