The Editor, Sir:

I cannot help but wonder if some aspects of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company's (JUTC) operation is a punishment to the commuting public rather than a service.

One would agree that our country has come a far way in the area of public transportation since the days of the patty pan and transit van.

Let's not fool ourselves, however. We have a far way to go in offering that quality service that will inspire confidence in the commuting public who rely on the government-run buses.

On January 15, I entered the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre and purchased a ticket at 6:38 p.m. I asked the 'despatcher' what time the next # 53 bus - which plies the Half-Way Tree to Above Rocks route - was due to arrive.

She said "7:30".

Disgruntled commuters

I stood there in the transport centre until 8 p.m. and still no #53 bus to relieve my tired feet and start me on my journey home.

Commuters started to get disgruntled as one gentleman asked, "What is the difference between inside here and out there?" while pointing to the Coaster buses on the outside.

Notwithstanding, two buses entered the centre during my 'waiting period'; the numbers 53 and 54 were removed from the windscreen and the buses carefully parked next to the administrative building.

Is this the normal waiting time for the transport company which boasts a tag line 'Your route to excellence'? What is excellent about the utter contempt and blatant disregard for the needs of the travelling public; as the various JUTC personnel shuffle paper, fiddle with their clipboards and watch the crowd grow bigger?

What is so excellent about some commuters waiting an eternity while others have the luxury of going home - on time?

I left the bus park in utter disgust; angry at myself for having gone there in the first place, threw my ticket in the nearby trash can, and was in Constant Spring 10 minutes later, having boarded a Coaster bus on the outside.

Will come to nought

Thanks to the 'excellent' service the JUTC delivered on January 15, I have subsequently added one more resolution to my 2009 list: Never to go back to that bus park to waste my time and money.

So, while the JUTC acquires all the state-of-the-art buses and offers 'sweet platitudes' about service, it will all come to nought unless the management and staff develop a state-of-the-art mentality that resonates buoyancy and contentment with the travelling public.

Of course, if recent history is anything to go by, it will be easier for pigs to fly than for the managers of a government-run bus company to care about us.

I am, etc.,

DAYON GRAY

dayongray@yahoo.com

Cavaliers District, St Andrew