BUS LOGIC

Like gophers maintained for lab work, we as a nation are numbed beyond reason. Kept on a bare minimum of nutrients of life, we rejoice whenever a little ‘extra something’ is given to us as a treat. The extra something which comes with great fanfare, may actually be something as fundamental as road works, telephone lines or tangible health and education facilities.

In this same spirit of making the clichéd mountain of a molehill, every now and then, good tidings are given to the masses by some gracious Minister in the form of new buses which are to join the current fleet. That’s fair enough. The public transport we have is scarce, and we need more buses than cars. But that’s besides the point I want to make.

The buses we currently have ploughing our city roads are clearly not fit for the job. These are ironically not designed city duties, with high floors, tall structures and engines at the front. High floors allow baggage compartments to be incorporated throughout under the seating area. Understandably, a commuter in the city wouldn’t be carrying duffels and suitcases warranting a large stowage area in the bus.

Clearly, its easy to see the problems these buses would cause on the city run. And the problems are compounded even more because somehow our bus culture has not been evolving as fervently as an infant develops the pincer grip. Because of the higher stance of these buses, passengers who are debarking or embarking need to negotiate a flight of steps. And, because coming to a complete stop, at properly fabricated bus stops is still a dream, we see all sorts of unfortunate predicaments. Old gentlemen with arthritic knees trying to jump up into a moving bus, and old dames clutching on to their veils and plunging down into the hands of passer byes is a common scene. The rather uncommon but more painful incidents are when in this mayhem the unfortunate ones get pinned by the wheels. Or, injured seriously when they fail to complete their juggle with the bus.

These are ‘normal’, relatively mobile, people. Imagine what a person on a wheelchair, or a pregnant lady, or someone with a piece of luggage tries to claim their right to public transport on equal grounds. I know that people with special needs need not look towards the government for their special needs. But i guess its time that they DO get a nod as well.

I traveled to Australia early this year. And, in Sydney I did travel by buses. I noticed some interesting facts.

Firstly, the buses which are dedicated to intra city duties are different from those which run between cities. This makes a lot of sense. These are low floor buses. The floor height is the same throughout the bus, except in the rear where the floor rises squarely to accommodate the engine and the gear box. In the front section, just behind the driver, there are a couple of seats dedicated for the elderly or the infirm or the overtly obese. Or, people with luggage. Needless to say, the number of people the bus is designed to carry, (sitting AND standing) is clearly mentioned.

Secondly, the road side curb, by which the buses stop are all of standard height. And, the buses are all standard height as well. So, when a bus stops at a stop, all that the dainty, 90-year old white-haired lady needs to do is merely take a small step, and she gets in or out of the bus. No heaving, no pushing, no swearing. That the bus comes to a complete stop also helps in the unhurried exchange of passengers.

There is a lot of other detail as well, but that is not relevant to our rather basic discussion. I have only mentioned two small facts which make using buses convenient for the people. There are hundreds of things which someone like me who has spent a couple of months out of Pakistan can suggest. So, I wonder what stops our imported leaders. They have spent decades living austere lives abroad. I understand that they are busy making heady investments, and having tailored suits made. But, I am sure, even if ninety percent of their time was spent hillbillying, they would have noticed atleast some good things in Europe or UAE or the US. And, I am sure on some quiet day, when they had bought all the cars, visited all the hair transplant surgeons, and bought all real estate in Scandinavia, they might have had made a vow to bring some benefit to their people back in Pakistan. Once they were off their political vacation, that is.

I don’t know the cost involved in getting the proper buses from China. But what I really wonder is if someone even thought of all this while putting an order down for new buses. This is not all rocket science. I know change comes gradually. But the first thing which even doesn’t need a budget outlay, is an enterprisingly thought. First, you think of changing, and then you plan to change. I am sure at no time did this inter- vs intra-city bus debate ever surface. And its no rocket science, rerally.

Unfortunately, we have too many primitive problems. No sugar. No flour. No electricity. We don’t even have enough buses. What to say of what KIND of buses. It is painful, to say the least. But, all isn’t hopeless. Because, we did manage to make an atomic bomb. And, yes, that IS rocket science. If we can do that, I am sure we can start thinking about something as trivial as low floor buses, and the ease it would bring to the commuters. All it requires is some planning, and logic, before the Government spends our money for our convenience.