Dear Editor,

I am not trying to shoot a hole in the pockets of bus and taxi operators. However, just imagine for a while having to sit between two seats on a vehicle travelling for one and a half hours; or having to be leaning to one side adding to your already discomfort in order to have use of your legs upon exiting the vehicle because the person sitting in front of you, at no fault of their own, has to sit in such a way that all their body weight is resting on you.

This is the reality of persons travelling on routes such as Spanish Town to Mandeville or Ocho Rios to Spanish Town where, a seat meant for one passenger has to be shared whether you want to or not. In addition, the full fare is expected even from children less than 12 years of age.

To add to this situation, the conductors are so impatient, rude and disrespectful that one better not try to question or put up any resistance to this arrangement that has overtime become the “status quo” of public travelling.

It is not as if one cannot understand the harsh reality of our economic situation or the dilemma that these operators have to deal with bearing in mind the fact that gas price has really skyrocketed in recent times. Nevertheless, passengers should not be forced to travel uncomfortably so as to ensure that the most is made out of each trip. Not only is this arrangement unfair to passengers, it also poses a real danger should an accident or any other unforeseen incident arise on the journey.

Hence, my call for the relevant authority to start doing more regular checks in this regards. This practice, while it may have been going on for a long time, should not be allowed to continue.

Patricia Clarke

patriciaclarke230@yahoo.com