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Public urged to use bus stops & refrain from catching rides on roadways

- as Community Bus Service recommences
Bus service to various communities on Tortola from the Road Town Market Square has commenced following the bus shelter’s completion and bus operators’ initiative for revamping service to communities in Tortola. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
Director of the Taxi and Livery Commission, Mr Jevaughn J. Parsons has said buses from the Road Town Market Square currently operate on an hourly basis and begin operations at 5:30 a.m. from East Town while the last bus leaves Road Town at 8:00 p.m for East Town. Photo: Facebook
Director of the Taxi and Livery Commission, Mr Jevaughn J. Parsons has said buses from the Road Town Market Square currently operate on an hourly basis and begin operations at 5:30 a.m. from East Town while the last bus leaves Road Town at 8:00 p.m for East Town. Photo: Facebook
Members of the public are being encouraged to use the Road Town Market Square bus stop and not wait for buses on the roadside as a means of alleviating traffic congestion especially on the Walter James Francis Highway. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
Members of the public are being encouraged to use the Road Town Market Square bus stop and not wait for buses on the roadside as a means of alleviating traffic congestion especially on the Walter James Francis Highway. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Director of the Taxi and Livery Commission, Mr Jevaughn J. Parsons has confirmed the recommencement of bus service to various communities on Tortola from the Road Town Market Square.

The community has also been urged to utilise the bus service and avoid catching rides on the roadways, especially in the heart of Road Town.

Mr Parsons was speaking on the GIS Report on Monday, September 30, 2024, with Government Information Officer Giovanni Herbert when he said the Road Town Market Square is the most centralised location for the bus stop as it has the most walking traffic.

“Persons looking to be connected to the various communities can go to the bus stop, buses currently operate on a first come first serve basis with an hourly turnaround time,” he said.

While travellers have the option to choose whichever bus they’d like to travel on, the bus operators that show up first will also be the first ones to leave.

Bus operators approached Commission to revamp community bus service

Bus stops in central locations have not been available since the passage of the hurricanes in 2017.

Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) in February 2024, said preparations were underway to re-establish a Community Bus Service in the Territory with the completion of the Road Town Market Square Bus Shelter as the first phase.

Mr Parsons said following the completion of the New Road Town Market Square, bus operators approached the Commission wanting to help reestablish the community bus service. “They were able to form an executive committee and one of the directives was basically to send a proposal as to how we’ll put this thing into play, and they’ve since put forward a proposal.”

Currently, the Commission is in the phase of reviewing the proposal and charting a way forward.

Bus operators to run day-to-day; tentative schedule in place

Mr Parsons did say that while the Commission will overlook the community bus service, the bus operators for the most part will run the day-to-day.

A schedule, that may change, is in operation with the first bus leaving East End at 5:30 AM and the last bus departing the town for East End at 8:00 PM.

The turnaround times could be decreased from an hour to thirty minutes or even fifteen minutes as the bus operators continue to operate daily.

Additionally, there may be an increase or decrease in fares, Mr Parsons stated.

He also said a proposed schedule needs to be approved by Hon Rymer and approved times, routes and fares will be subsequently published by the Commission and the Ministry.

Public encouraged to use bus stop

Five slots across from the bus shelter in Road Town are for buses to park and wait.

“That is the staging area for the buses…five buses can fit while they wait for passengers across at the bus stop. Ideally, we’re trying to alleviate the congestion on the Walter James Francis Highway, buses would stop there from time to time abruptly and cause a traffic disruption. So, we’ve created this space for them to stage and lay in wait for persons,” he explained.

Therefore, members of the public are being asked for their cooperation. Mr Parsons encouraged those looking to catch a bus to use the bus stop and not wait on the roads.

32 Responses to “Public urged to use bus stops & refrain from catching rides on roadways”

  • smh (02/10/2024, 09:12) Like (24) Dislike (8) Reply
    They made a bus stop but not everyone has money to pay bus not everyone catch bus so tell me how are they going know what vehicle going direction to east
    • @SMH (02/10/2024, 12:39) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      What exactly do you mean not everyone has the money to pay for a bus? I was in Maryland visiting my son over the summer and I decided to take the bus just to experience what it is to ride the bus. a one way ride is $2.00, you can also pay $5.00 for a day pass that expires 3am the next day. Each bus stop have signs as to where the bus is headed.
      • Real (02/10/2024, 13:15) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
        SO YOU THINK WE IN MARYLAND SET A MOOMOO
        • @Teal (02/10/2024, 15:01) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply

          You are the %$£…ing MOOMOO DARM BUSH FOOL. The person was just saying something. People like your bush a.. don’t know any better. You know what I would love to do to some of you bush people? Take a bunch of you to Yankee Stadium in the middle of winter, drop you off in the cold with just your passports and see how many of you will have enough common sense to find your way back to the BVI from the Bronx.

          • @@Teal (02/10/2024, 17:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
            LOL, that is so funny. So you plan to drop them off in the middle of winter in Yankee stadium with their passport a light coat and flip flops and tell them to navigate the Bronx and find their way back to the BVI eh? LOL, there is a MC.Donald about a block from the Stadium they can go in to warm up and ask for directions.LOL.
    • the rock (02/10/2024, 13:38) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      Mr parsons you all need to think and stop doing nonsense, that bus stop could if been placed right after wards building, how the he'll you gone force everyone to go back there, darn it man, common sense ain't so common now a days!
  • Pure jokes (02/10/2024, 09:18) Like (130) Dislike (1) Reply
    Not trying to be funny but do you really think these hard headed people is going to listen? One thing I have noticed since living here people don’t follow rules.
  • 2024 (02/10/2024, 09:30) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    dont wait until someone gets seriously injured to then deal with that problem

    Passengers using most of the Bus Transportation usually have to come into the flow of traffic especially by that roundabout in road town

    no one regulates the disruption cases by those bus drivers(please do wait until someone gets run down
  • Belac (02/10/2024, 09:34) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    They want free ride. Don't want to spend a penny.
  • WHAT!!! (02/10/2024, 09:36) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do you really think that will happen??
  • Really (02/10/2024, 09:36) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    What bus stop .

    You all ever seen a bus stop .

    Try again
    • BadMan (02/10/2024, 11:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      ye...it gah a set of bus stop
    • @Really (02/10/2024, 12:16) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
      100% in agreement with your comment. Bus Stop???? Looks more like huts to me. Perhaps they need to travel outside and see the proper way a bus stop should be set up.
  • bus (02/10/2024, 10:26) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bus drivers are not the only people that stop for peole on the high way. Tourist dont know about our bus stop. Not saying its not a more structured operation. The entire public should do the same. Police presence should be in that area at all times to keep the traffic incheck.
  • lmao (02/10/2024, 10:44) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply

    These moo moo build a bus stop where NOBODY WAITS TO GET RIDES and now trying to force them? The thing is a waste of %$£*& money and was a DUMB IDEA FROM THE BEGINNING!

  • HMMM (02/10/2024, 10:57) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    You standing at the hospital almost a whole hour before any of those boogie passes.
  • Strupes (02/10/2024, 12:02) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who paying for the passengers fare that can't afford it and could barely pay rent or eat a good meal.
  • Gary Oak (02/10/2024, 12:04) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    i see y'all build a bust stop in ghetto east end now them people using it to sell their products and lime and drink beer there lol.

    what person would feel comfortable waiting there for a bus? not me. those poor young women probably feel even more vulnerable going there
  • Bus app (02/10/2024, 12:29) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Perhaps the Taxi and Delivery Commission could provide an app so potential riders could see on their phone the location of the bus they are waiting for with an approx. ETA at their bus stop. No sense waiting for a bus that will arrive over half hour later at a bus stop.
  • One thing I notice (02/10/2024, 12:53) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    No one want to pay for anything or be fair. At least if someone gives you a ride, at least offer the person some gas money.The one and only time I needed a ride from East to West I told the driver to pull into a gas station to get some gas and he said it was not a problem, when we got to the destination and I got out of the car, I left 25 dollars on the seat. That was my way of saying thank you for the ride.
  • STOP IT!!!! (02/10/2024, 13:21) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Unless you want to buy everyone a car or pay their fare with your government salary leave the people alone!!!!

    The roads dont even have sidewalks, the hills dont have steps, there is no bike lane. When people are powering through and making do within their means the big shot big salary big car control freaks want to tell them to not catch ride.

    Tortola is the safest place for catching rides that builds community spirit. The people who came up with that they want to stop feeling guilty passing us on the road buh stop catching ride.

    1 2 3 4 5 6 am you can catch ride here safe where else in the world can you do that?
  • STOP IT!!!! (02/10/2024, 13:28) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    @belac & that line of thinking... You dont have to give someone with a heart and a sense of empathy will do it.


    When I was driving I gave people rides. Now I dont drive I catch ride but when I drive again it could be your relative being picked up by people you have bad minded against. This island is to small for everyone to turn into a villain. Its a circle you bump into the same people over & over.
  • STOP IT!!!! (02/10/2024, 13:38) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Most of the people in agreement never catch buss or ride here on a regular. For one thing no government buss is going to cost $2, its run by taxi people and they love money. That is why a taxi cost $30 for locals and they never approach government to change the local fare separate from what tourist pay.

    Government built a buss stop in the wrong spot next to the market in a wrong spot and NOW the taxi approach to revamp community buss???

    There been buss running!!! No one ever said to revamp it or invest in it.... now the other taxis & government want to replace it.

    You guys want to throw a wrench in the system without understanding the game or the players. They say dont catch ride to funnel people into their corrupt system. WAKE UP & follow the dollars!
  • Dont tell me (02/10/2024, 14:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    U have talk to those town cath them cause must of d problem
  • I don’t (02/10/2024, 15:10) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    GIVE RIDES TO ANYONE OR LEND MONEY TO ANYONE. HAVE A BOTTLE OF WATER AND START WALKING. THE OLDER GENERATION USE TO WALK FROM SEA COWS BAY TO ROAD TOWN BACK AND FORTH AND NEVER COMPLAIN. INVEST IN A BICYCLE AND START PEDDLING.
  • lmao (02/10/2024, 15:18) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Bus stop you say? You are better off saying a hang out for the crack heads, drunks, drug sellers and idlers.
  • Prophet (02/10/2024, 15:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    No bus service in the 2nd district. How then could someone living there without a transport, not catch a ride?
  • It's the basics (02/10/2024, 21:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why can't the BVI get ANYTHING right? This is the basics. A bus system can look like Maryland's (SMH!) which is a more high-end big city system, or it can look like Grenada's or Dominica's where bus owners get permission to run their route all day back and forth and have rules to abide by, bus stops to stop at. In all these systems, drivers have rules for the safety of the public, to keep roads moving and to avoid over competitive money-grabbing among the licensed drivers. If they break rules, they risk getting caught by cops or street cameras and losing their license.
    Here we have no infrastructure, buses stop randomly where they want even on the two lane highway where vehicles are accelerating or moving at a pace. No rules at all.
    And here's 'the boss' begging the drivers to use an out of the way stop as some kind of solution?
    Smack my head, indeed!
  • One of the reasons (02/10/2024, 22:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing is done or build the right way is because their are to many chiefs and not enough Indians. Everyone think their idea is the best idea rather than anyone else idea. Can’t stand the way the bus stops are design, can’t stand the way the suppose to be market is design, looks like something that belongs in a beach setting not a market.


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