SABAH SAYS… Let’s Talk About Buses

Not the most interesting of titles this week (unless you’re really into buses). But having been in Mauritius for almost a year now, I think that I am in a pretty adequate position to say that Mauritius has a… bus problem. 

Now, I’m a huge advocate of public transport. I think it’s great! I still haven’t passed my driving test (don’t ask), so before moving to Mauritius and especially before meeting my husband, the bus was my main form of transportation – my trusted old friend that got me everywhere I needed to be safely. To be fair, Manchester has its fair share of bus-related issues too, mainly that some buses get really overcrowded, the bus I used to take from the city centre or from University was nearly always late and probably still is, and the sheer cost of catching the bus is quite expensive, with bus ticket prices having increased extortionately, particularly in recent years. 

The bus transport system in Mauritius definitely has its perks. The fact that there is a wonderful crisscrossing network across the whole island is fantastic, making everywhere accessible to most people. With bus ticket prices being relatively low as well, it means that the main form of public transport here is affordable to the ordinary person. I have yet to experience a bus ride here in Mauritius and it is on my to-do list, but to be honest, as an outside observer, there are some things I have seen that I really do not like and which deter me from even wanting to ride the bus. My reasons are three-fold and the first two reasons do not apply to the limited number of new Express buses, which have finally made a well-overdue appearance on the island. 

Accessibility

Being the mother of two young children, I would want to be able to easily access a bus with a pushchair and a preschooler in tow. However, the majority of buses here look like they are straight from 1970’s India or Pakistan; old, tinny and high off the ground, making it extremely difficult for parents with pushchairs, elderly people and those with physical disabilities to ascend the steps and get on board. As already mentioned, there are the new Express buses around now which have low floors, but they are few and far in between and don’t serve the entire island yet, which means that there is still a large group of people that are isolated from catching the bus, or that find it a troublesome task. This needs to change.

Fumes

The first time I saw a bus here emitting thick, black fumes from its exhaust pipe, I thought there was something wrong – like maybe the engine had caught on fire? But rest assured, my trusted husband was there to inform me that there was nothing wrong with the bus – it was just old and not energy efficient, and this is how it had been for years. But we’re living in the year 2017! How are there still vehicles like this around? 

Motor vehicle exhaust fumes are a major source of air pollutants and can not only poison the very air which we breathe, but also damage buildings, harm plants and even cause acid rain, amongst other things. Excessive dark smoke, which most of the buses here seem to produce, is normally caused by inadequate vehicle maintenance and is a sign that the vehicle is burning excess fuel. Simple maintenance of the vehicle can help with this, which leads me to believe that buses in Mauritius are not serviced properly, as everyday it appears that I am face-to-face with yet another obnoxious, black cloud. For a country that charges 100% VAT on cars to deter people from buying them in order to better protect the environment, the very fact that buses that exude so much toxic smoke are allowed to be on the roads is absolutely beyond me. Where is the logic? 

Bus Drivers

Okay, so even if the Government of Mauritius paid heed and got rid of all the old buses and replaced them with smarter, cleaner, more easily accessible and energy-efficient versions, I believe there would still be a problem. After all, you can change the exterior surroundings of a person but if that person is not willing to change themselves, then the problem will remain. It is the same in this circumstance. 

I am not saying that all the bus drivers here are like this, but I do not exaggerate when I tell you that every day that I have been out of my house on this beautiful island, I have witnessed a bus driver driving carelessly, recklessly or downright dangerously. There have been at least a couple of times where my husband’s driving expertise has saved us from being hit by a bus; one time a bus driver was driving dangerously close to the back of us and just would not slow down, another time the driver pulled out into oncoming traffic and had to wedge himself in right beside us to avoid getting hit. 

What’s even worse than all of this, however, is the attitude of other Mauritians to these reckless bus drivers. People we have spoken to have laughed about it, brushing the problem under the carpet because the drivers are ‘young’. Being ‘young’ is not an excuse for putting the lives of all your passengers and other road users at risk. Being ‘young’ is no excuse for driving like an idiot. I honestly do not know why the bus drivers here drive the way that they do – there needs to be stricter enforcement of road rules and safety measures, and regular checks to make sure that they are driving as safely as possible. And please, if you see a bus driver driving recklessly, report it! The longer these drivers can get away with it, the longer they will carry on and so, the longer people will unnecessarily be at risk.

I needed to get all of this off my chest this week and I’m glad I have, but change will not come with just one person speaking up. If you agree with my sentiments, please voice your concerns and together we can put pressure on those who can bring about the change that is desperately needed. 

Until next time. 

Light & Love, Sabah x