Transit Modes: PTSC Buses

  Image to the left showing a single bus and the one to the right, buses inside the terminal garage.

I remember a friend telling me that they hate PTSC buses, however I had never traveled on one then. However while going for driving lessons in Port-of-Spain last year I became fond of the drive. I admired most the socialization taking place in the bus; old folks chatting with one another and the sharing of wisdom with younger persons occasionally. This would warm my heart. However the bus which I traveled on was for my area, a small village, where older persons knew one another, and younger ones were just familiar with faces. I traveled on a bus to San Fernando once and the atmosphere was the total opposite, however the comfort of the bus sort of made up for that.

  PTSC buses are modes of mass transport. Vuchin (1981) states that mass transit is characterized by fixed routes and schedules, and this is exactly how PTSC buses operate. Nonetheless mechanical draw-backs and road conditions may setback the regular schedules based on my experience. Although writing from the perspective of the 19th century, Vuchin (1981) also points out that quality of street transit services, which buses fall under, particularly its speed and reliability, is dependent on traffic conditions. With reference to the bus that operates from Port-of-Spain to my area, it takes the Priority Bus Route to San Juan, where it may off load or collect passengers, then it takes the Saddle Road to my area, and along the route are several stops. Additionally this bus runs 8 times a day, once there are no disruptions between the hours of 4:30am to 6:30pm. These features which are similar but varied in different parts of the country, fit in with the previously stated principles of mass transit mode, buses.

  According to Vuchin (1981) buses are the most economical transit modes for lightly traveled lines. Referring again to the bus I frequent, for me to get from where I live to Port-of-Spain would require me to take two forms of transport and spend approximately $8, whereas if I took the bus, I get a straight ride to Port-of-Spain and pay half the price. Also another great thing about the bus service in Trinidad, is that school children in uniform from all corners of the country can ride the bus for free, so too can the elderly.

  Traffic congestion is a major issue in downtown Port-of-Spain and as such to lessen this problem, government has been debating the implementation of a 'Park and Ride' initiative which would utilize PTSC buses from peripheral areas into the downtown area or CBD. This would reduce traffic downtown and allow the business district to be pedestrian friendly as well.(Guardian 2014)

  Although bus services are efficient, reduces traffic and are environmentally friendly, a stigma exists, which is connected with the perception that persons who use public transport belong to the lower rung of society.(Rodrigue et al 2013) This stigma and the economic success symbolized by personal mobility according to Rodgrigue et al (2013), could very well be the reason for the continued and climbing imports of personal vehicles visible on the port and consequently congestion on the nation's roadways.

Reference

• 2014. Permanent park and ride would boost business. Guardian, February 9.https://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2014-02-09/%E2%80%98permanent-park-and-ride-will-boost-business%E2%80%99 (accessed April 11, 2014).
• Rodrigue, J., C. Comtois, B. Slack.2013.The geography of transport systems.3rd ed. London and New York: Routledge. http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch6en/conc6en/ch6c1en.html. (accessed February 10, 2014).
• Vuchic, V. R.1981. Urban public transport: systems and technology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/20020114urbanpubtrsysVuchic.pdf (accessed April 10, 2014)