By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Energy and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis has been getting firsthand experience of the public bus system as her ministry continues its review of the sector ahead of a bus fare hike.

She told reporters on Thursday that she traveled on several bus routes through Over-the-Hill areas and spoke with passengers about how the current system can be improved.

Mrs Coleby-Davis said her ministry is committed to modernizing and transforming the bus transportation system, and has embarked on a review of the public bus transportation sector.

“It’s a priority of me to hear from the users what some of their concerns are some suggestion and recommendations, and how they feel about the fare increase,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said.

She said they received “really good” feedback, with bus riders voicing concerns about disability accommodations, the attitude of some bus drivers, and the physical conditions of the buses.

“They wanted better bus stops, better placement of bus stops, and they asked for maybe a proper schedule so they can know exactly when some of the buses are arriving, particular drivers they prefer... Also they spoke about the need for an evening route and maybe going to bus passes. Some of them raised really good points, things that we’re already talking about, so it’s good to hear it raised by the public,” the transport minister said.

When asked how receptive Bahamians have been to the pending increase in bus fares, Minister Coleby-Davis said there is an understanding of the need for an increase considering the rise in inflation and cost of living.

She said: “They were considerate of the need of the drivers to get an increase, they thought they deserved it, but they wanted to make sure the sector transformation came along with the increase.”

The Ministry of Energy and Transport has scheduled a townhall meeting on April 4th for the public, bus owners, and bus operators to exchange their thoughts and opinions to “balance the sector and make it user-friendly for everyone”, Mrs Coleby-Davis said.

Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union General Secretary Corvell Colebrooke said he was pleased to take the transport minister with him on his bus route #16.

“It’s a critical aspect of it because we have a sitting Member of Parliament and a Cabinet minister riding the daily bus, this is not just someone coming to say ‘oh well you need this and that’, no,” Mr Colebrooke said.

“She’s physically on the bus riding this to see what is going on on a daily basis and interacting with the customers.”

Colebrooke added that he hopes to see the prime minister take a ride on a jitney bus one day.