‘It Has Been Very Slow’; Bus Drivers Lament Over The Issues Caused By The Pandemic

Bus drivers have expressed their sorrows with the new reality of commuting cause by the coronavirus pandemic.

In line with the nation’s health and safety protocols, they were not allowed to operate at full capacity for three months in order to maintain social distancing.

The Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board later released a letter in late June addressed to bus operators as well as the general public stating that all buses were now allowed to carry the maximum number of passengers that they are licensed for.

Despite the relax restrictions, the bus drivers admit that it has been rough compared to pre-pandemic days.

One operator, Vere Ferris, said, “Passengers are not travelling like before. Before, you used to get five to seven trips a day. Right now, we’re getting only about three to four trips a day.”

In addition, some drivers as well as passengers are just not comfortable traveling on a bus in its full capacity.

“I heard that we can operate fully, but I’m not comfortable operating at a full level for now because all the passengers are relatively close to each other. I, for one, don’t need somebody close to me in front, and I don’t care for anybody sitting at the back of me either,” a bus driver said.

Meanwhile, Veronica Andrew, president of the North-East Bus Association, reveals another problem faced by bus drivers – the lack of water pipes available for drivers and passengers alike to sanitise prior to boarding buses.

“From the beginning of this… we were told that we would have had pipes put in place up at the East Bus Station. Not up to this day, there hasn’t been any pipes,” Andrew said.

The lack of hand washing stations is an issue for them, but Andrew mentioned that the restrooms lack running water as well.

“I have my things to clean my hands. I can’t clean all the passengers’ hands at the end of the day, and when you go to the washroom, pipe is off,” she explained.

“We need pipes put in place up here so that passengers and bus drivers on a whole can do their washing of hands,” Andrew added.

 

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