THE Transport Authority (TA) has started a major programme to influence behaviour change in the public transport sector, especially the interaction between commuters and its route inspectors.

Dubbed ‘Moving People, M-Powering Lives’, the Inspector-Commuter Engagement campaign started last Friday at Half-Way-Tree in St Andrew; Santa Cruz Transport Centre, St Elizabeth; Montego Bay Transport Centre, St James; and in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

This will be take place every fourth Friday over the next five months.

TA route inspectors will be out in numbers to educate commuters about their role and update them on their rights when using public transportation, as well as educating them on the role of inspectors.

“Our goal is to foster a cordial relationship between our route inspectors and the travelling public across the regions and to assist the commuters to make informed decision when taking public transportation. All regions will actively participate by facilitating meaningful interactions between inspectors and commuters,” said the TA in a media release.

This initiative was born out of a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey which found that 80 per cent of commuters indicated that they had never interacted with route inspectors. As the sole regulator of land transportation, one of the authority’s roles is to ensure commuters have access to safe, reliable and efficient public passenger vehicles.

The survey found that most commuters, it found, are not aware that they have the right to safe transportation, protection against discrimination, right to be transported comfortably with adequate seating and ventilation, right to information, the right to file complaints about the service provided by the operators and may be required to provide a statement to law enforcement, and a right to report the actions of members of the TA.

“The Inspector-Commuter Engagement is seeking to reinforce the idea that inspectors are not only regulators, but also helpers who support both providers and commuters. It is expected to build trust and stronger public confidence in the authority’s enforcement arm, educate and empower them as to rights as commuters as well as their role and responsibilities when they are taking PPV (public passenger vehicles),” said Merdina Callum, head of corporate communication at the TA.

She argued that not only should commuters take taxis with red licence licence plates, but they must ensure that the taxis’ routes are clearly marked, the drivers are uniformed and have badges clearly displayed in the vehicles.

“Commuters can ensure they are taking a properly licensed vehicle by downloading the authority’s
Travelpal App, which can be accessed from the Google Play or Apple Store, which will give them real time information on the vehicle they are taking. The Travelpal App also allows the commuter to create his/her journey and share it with their loved ones who will have the motor vehicle’s information and can track the journey,” added Callum.

She said the TA has identified there is a need to curb the growth and prevalence of indiscipline in the public transportation sector in Jamaica and transform the sector into one that is people-centred and meets world class standards.

“A basic and critical step in the transformation process is the identification and assessment of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the users and operators of the public transportation system. This is necessary to reveal misconceptions or misunderstandings that may represent obstacles to the activities to be implemented and act as potential barriers to behaviour change,” said Callum.