Dangerous driving
While restricting minibuses to what in effect are regional routes results in a differentiated market, it does not necessarily result in a differentiated service. Almost all minibus drivers seem to offer the same experience on the road: the risk of death by dangerous driving. One consequence of a segregated market is the competition generated in each market. More time would be needed to obtain realistic data on the demand and supply of the 19 routes. However, one expects rivalry among competitors to be intense. Entry into these markets is relatively easy and substitutes are available to road users. It is not surprising to hear some minibus operators express the view that Route 45, the hospital route, is overcrowded. The area represents an estimated one square mile and is assessed to have between 300 to 400 minibuses accessing that route.
About 11 per cent of the passenger vehicles on the road are minibuses. Many of these buses operate within a 12-hour window that coincides with the demand for transportation to get to and from work, school and to conduct business. Some industry insiders believe