The Editor, Sir:
SUNDAY JANUARY 25 was my first opportunity trying out the JUTC's transfer system; whereas you take a bus which usually travels the full route but instead, on Sundays, travels to a particular terminus, mainly Half-Way Tree (HWT), where you are connected to another bus which completes the journey.
I took the #500 bus from Cross Roads minutes before 8 p.m. I asked and the conductor explained to me what exactly the transfer system was. Later I arrived in Half-Way Tree and decided to look after some business. A few minutes before 10 p.m., I was at the bus stop along Eastwood Park Road in HWT waiting to complete my journey. I saw a #16A pull up at the bus stop and being that it travels by my intended destination, I boarded still clutching to my transfer ticket.
I was happy to see that the lady in front of me was also transferring, so I didn't feel out of the ordinary. After the lady presented her ticket, the female conductor just shook her head in what I perceived as disappointment. When I likewise presented my ticket, she was quick to let me know that #16A did not offer transfer service (well not in Kingston). I said I was not aware and immediately a JUTC inspector appeared. She gave me a suspicious look and demanded my ticket, after careful examination she said:
"No, you affi pay you full fare, unu gwaan like unu nuh know seh Portmore bus dem nuh do transfer. Every Sunday night a dat unu do an den waa cuss off di 'ductress when dem tell u it caa work."
I made it clear to her that it was my first time using the transfer system and that I was not fully aware of the limitations, then I proceeded to pay my full fare. Again the JUTC inspector who had now taken a seat, shouted to the conductor while still examining my ticket:
"You know seh a from before 8 im tek di bus an now a almost 10 o'clock an him waa come use transfer, afta im tek di bus go HWT, im gallang bout im business di whole evening an den now come pon di bus bout im waa transfer, but im nuh easy!"
I told her that I wasn't aware of a time limit on the ticket and besides she didn't have to refer to me in that tone because it was my first time using the system. I then asked what was the time limit to which she did not answer. A gentleman sitting nearby said: "It's supposed to be valid for the entire day only, until you make the transfer."
"It nuh valid fi nuh entire day, you suppose to transfer to di edda bus when you reach the terminus," the inspector snapped.
Mr. Editor, what I am not certain of is this. On Sundays, if you are travelling to a destination which requires you to make a transfer, how long after you disembark in HWT do you have before transferring? What the inspector said (or was trying to say) made a little sense, there's a chance of people using this opportunity to make a free and extended stop-over, but then again this could be an incentive offered by the JUTC or it could be I am very wrong. One thing that I am sure is right, is that there are lots of persons who are yet to try the transfer service and I am pretty sure most of them are NOT aware of its full details.
Will the JUTC please clarify?
I am, etc.,
SAMORA RHULE
samrhule@yahoo.com
Kingston 20
Via Go-Jamaica
