Why oh why?
Recently, for a while at least, the daily commute had become a little more bearable; notwithstanding the ‘four-in-a-row’, the jet-like speeds, the sudden stops and close encounters with those who think that a bath once a week is quite fine. Something was missing from that combination and good riddance to it. Not in all minibuses by any means, because there are some that are more favoured than others and, despite the law, loudspeakers remained in those special ones. But compared to what it was before, we could have endured it.
Then like a broken record, the news screeched out on Tuesday that minibuses and taxis may keep their original tape/radio decks. Music to the ears of the drivers certainly, but a feeling of sinking hopelessness to many commuters and that includes us.
For we, the car-less, the public-transportation dependent, know that minibus drivers and conductors are a special breed of people who have a special culture all their own. Isn’t it unlawful to speak on the phone while driving? In the minibus culture, apparently not. And that is just one example.
With apologies to the few decent ones, the majority of minibus drivers are persons with little or no regard for the fact that they carry the lives of their passengers in their hands and earn their bread and butter from them.
Ask them to turn down the loud music and they look at you as if you have asked for fried snails with cassava leaves. Protest at the overloading or speeding and they ask you to leave but not before insulting you in the vilest language. It is not surprising that many people choose to suffer in silence.
The banning of music in public transportation brought a sense of relief for many that at least one of the scourges had been banished and perhaps the culture had been curbed. Notwithstanding that some still played music loudly, at least some of the worst offenders were silenced. Not for long.
Even before their effective lobbying, the outcome of which is dreaded because the operators will find some way around it, they had already found new ways to have loud music.
Many of the minibuses have bucket seats in the front. And some of the middle seats have a space at the back. And it is in this space that the operators are placing their tape decks and other devices to be able to play their music. When/if the police stop them, it is well hidden. And even when the law came into effect some buses were allowed to keep all their enhanced sound-making equipment. Apparently there are some favoured ones, which the police do not touch.
So recently the Minibus Association, which really ought to be training its members in customer service, met the authorities and wrung concessions, which for all the pronouncements to the contrary, we know they are going to abuse. So, despite the law, we are heading back to square one.
Despite our belief, it would be a pleasant surprise if that did not happen and we’re keeping our fingers crossed. But when, if ever, did that work? So there is the law, but the degree of enforcement will be what? Who cares about the travelling public anyway? Oh, our poor ears. (thescene@stabroeknews.com)
