Deviant buses to be monitored

A complaint that some George Town bound buses coming from the East are bypassing their set routes simply to avoid morning traffic is something that is to be monitored by the Public Transport Unit.

A complaint was made to the Caymanian Compass by a public transport customer that bus drivers are bypassing Shamrock Road in Red Bay in the mornings by going around Prospect Point Road just to avoid traffic gridlock.

‘This is something I can certainly monitor,’ said Acting Supervisor of the Public Transport Unit Roger Ebanks, who said he had not been aware of such a problem.

However, he pointed out that what needs to be ascertained is why buses are deviating: whether it is because a passenger needs to be dropped just off the main route, or whether they are bypassing the main route just to avoid traffic.

Mr. Ebanks explained that the majority of problems with this type of situation come from a clause in the drivers’ contract. This states that they must follow and complete their designated route, but if a passenger on the bus needs a diversion from the route, the driver can digress, but needs to get back on the route using the shortest way possible.

He said that a driver is in the right to deviate with a passenger and take an extra $1 from them to do so, as long as the quickest way back to the main route is taken. But, if deviation is taking place purely to avoid traffic then the driver is breaking rules and regulations.

The complainant also noted that buses are also bypassing Hurley’s roundabout and heading toward the Silver Oaks roundabout via Old Crewe Road, also to avoid traffic.

If a driver is asked to deviate from a particular route by a passenger on board, in doing so passengers waiting on the official route may be bypassed. ‘This is a catch 22 situation,’ said Mr. Ebanks. ‘The driver inconveniences one passenger by doing one thing and another passenger by doing another.’

Once the driver has found the quickest way back onto the main route he or she can either continue on or turn back along the part of the route missed out on.