Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

They boldly go where taxicabs fear to travel. Up and down they traverse along neglected pathways taking their human cargoes to their destinations. Meet the 'bike taxis'.

Serving the rural parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland, these illegal mode of public transportation made their appearances decades ago.

"Me born come see dem a operate bike taxis and it was going on many years before that," said 24-year-old Prince Roosevelt, who plies the Orange Bay route in Hanover. He said that he has been part-time in this line of work for the last three-and-a-half years.

"I chose to operate my bike because the people in the communities need help because there are no taxis in this area," he said.

"Is a very essential service we providing fi di community, yuh know? Yeah man ... a good one," said Roosevelt.

From as early as 4:00 a.m. on any given day, these 'robot' operators offer their services to residents who are almost removed from major towns due to deplorable roads.

A typical trip can cost anywhere between $50 to $70 for an average of four miles. The bikes, however, are a little more costly.

"It costs between $105,000 and $115,000 for a brand new Yamaha bike," said Roosevelt.

Bike routes

These bikers ply Orange Bay, Logwood and Santoy districts in Hanover, and in Negril, Sheffield, Mango Hall, Little London, Orange Hill, Salmon Point, Broughton, New Hope, Little Bay and Retirement in Westmoreland.

"We carry everybody ... including schoolchildren. We wake up very early and take them to and from school," Roosevelt said. "We deh pon di road 24/7 providing protection for the children too," he added.

Garnett Beckford, who plies the Orange Bay to Logwood and Santoy routes, says his job is his only source of income to provide for his family.

"Yeah man, sometimes you can eat a food," Beckford said in acknowledging that his job sustains him. He said that there was an added bonus to his job too.

"Yuh can get two days fi yuh self," the biker said.

But while the 'taxis' provide an essential service for rural residents, they still try to remain under the radar of the law.

Illegal transportation

Inspector Junior Whyte, sub-officer in charge of the Westmoreland Traffic Department, confirmed that that mode of public transport was illegal and it was difficult to police, as they would have to see the bikers collecting fares or persons coming forward to give statements in order to prosecute the riders.

"That is not going to happen ... Auntie Jane or Uncle John is not going to give a statement to prosecute his family," the inspector said.

Inspector Whyte said that whenever the cops go into the area, all the bikers would group together and sit on their bikes.

"Once their documents are legitimate we cannot prosecute them for sitting on or riding their bikes," he said.

Biker Beckford, however, said there were plans to form an association and have talks with Transport Minister Mike Henry to regularise their service.

"It going to be hard for dem to stop this business now unless dem put things in place," said Roosevelt.