Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter

Taking the JUTC bus yesterday was like going on a tour of the city with no sense of urgency.

The rain was pelting down as I hurriedly picked my way through the flooded streets of Spanish Town towards the bus terminus, from which I would be taking the bus to downtown Kingston. It was 10:30 a.m. so the terminus did not have the usual crowd it would have at peak hour.

As I expected, it was a long wait. It took half an hour before one of the buses pulled up to the stop for downtown Kingston.

Prior to that, about three buses were in the park. Two were heading to Half-Way Tree/Cross Roads while the other, an executive bus, just sat idly by.

As the clock ticked, the crowd began to grow as the passengers waited impatiently for the bus that would take us to downtown Kingston. A 22A bus pulled into the park and the stress momentarily disappeared from the faces of the passengers as they anxiously waited for the bus to stop at their feet. But their faces dropped when the bus went in the other direction, where the other buses were heading - Half-Way Tree/Cross Roads.

Shouts of rebuke

A buxom woman, who was now furious, vented her anger: "A weh it a go? The dispatcher nuh just tell me seh one soon come. Me nuh understand dem. Dem think seh people have time fi waste!" she said, hissing her teeth.

Five minutes later, as though he had heard the woman venting, the driver reversed and headed in our direction. By this time, the crowd was much larger and several passengers, with their umbrellas, rushed for the back door.

When I entered, I was greeted with shouts of rebuke from the conductress who was asking another passenger why he had not walked with his correct fare. She proceeded to tell him that he should have used some of his waiting time to get the correct change. The passenger did not answer, but took his seat.

In less than five minutes, all the seats were taken and we were finally on our way. It was a pleasant ride - no blaring music or anyone leaning over, or rubbing against you. But it was a long ride. The bus stopped at every bus stop as it took up more passengers on its way to downtown Kingston.

I nodded off while the driver drove nonchalantly. I was awakened an hour later with shouts of "get yuh umbrella! It's just $150, get yuh umbrella!"

I then knew I had finally reached my destination: downtown Kingston.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com