My thoughts on…the JUTC
I hate the JUTC. I REALLY hate the JUTC. This is nothing but a hate filled rant about that damned company. Hear that JUTC? Now the world’s gonna know just how much YOU SUCK! This post is a monster, so have a snack nearby. Ever since the new school term began, I’ve been struggling to get to school on time. I take the 75, or as I like to call it, “the most inefficient bus route in the known universe.” I remember having to wait over an hour and 20 minutes just to get one. Seriously. I counted. I hate that route with a passion. They don’t seem to get that people have places to go. They actually stop at the terminus, leave the bus and hang out at the nearest bar for about half hour (even longer if it’s lunchtime), then round up the frustrated passengers.
And on top of this “professional” service, they herd you in the buses like cattle, in the most inconsiderate ways possible, and sometimes drive off with the doors OPEN! Even the coaster boys have more manners than them! When I finally arrive at school, I’m tired, sweaty, hungry, and late. I now have to get up about an hour earlier in the mornings, and being in 3rd year, where you really have to work for your marks, there isn’t much time for sleep, so I almost always doze off during classes. So between the tardiness and the sleeping, I miss a lot of important material, which I then have to catch up on, leading to more sleepless nights, which causes me to sleep in class or arrive late, which leads to me missing a lot of important material, which leads to…am I the only one detecting a vicious cycle here?
I now have to carry extra money to take two buses to school. But even then you still have to contend with the squeezing and the unprofessionalism. And I hate the idea of giving the JUTC even more money for their incompetence. I’d rather take a “robot” bus, for as much as they like to cram their buses with passengers, it’s way more comfortable than a crammed JUTC bus. Plus, chances are you’ll get a seat. No wonder the JUTC’s losing so much damn money to them! If there were a couple robots plying the Washington Boulevard to Papine route, I would never set foot in a 75 again. I think the JUTC is trying to cash in on its own incompetence, as there are now several “express” buses, plying the popular routes but tend to go to Half-Way-Tree only. Half way indeed. (I wonder if that’s how it got its name.) And they want you to pay $60 or $80 just to take you some of the way. As you can imagine, I’m not a big fan.
I was never too interested in driving, even when my dad offered to teach me. “Why bother with driving so early?” “I’ll take a bus for now cause it’s much more affordable.” But now, I think I’ll take my dad up on his offer. And the funny thing is, I used to like the JUTC. When they just came out, they were the model of efficiency. Nice, shiny new buses, courteous uniformed staff, strict rules such as “no eating and drinking on the bus,” schedules were actually kept and you could sit or stand without someone’s limbs poking you in your side. But, as with any government owned service, ineptitude quickly rears its ugly head. Now the previously described JUTC seems like nothing but a fantasy. But I guess I should look at the bright side. This will motivate me to work harder in school so I can land a well-paying job and get myself a decent set of wheels.
fortunately I have many routes serving the areas I frequent which are mostly town centres. I do notice the drop in service, dirty buses, bad driving and unfriendly staff. -_-
man its not that bad, I take the same bus sometimes in the mornings. Like everything in jamaica you have to do some amount of juggling. either you take a chance and take a robot, a papine bus, a express jutc, a expensive taxi, wake up really early, buy a old car, buy a new car, car pool, ride a bicycle, ride a bike or go gta. If you attempt to use only one of these options all the time you will eventually loose you mind because no are dependable. juggle
At least you found a silver lining..What JUTC stands for?
Jamaica Urban Transit Corp.
Leon, this post reminds me of goin’ to de terminus (Great House Circle) every mornin’ on de (back then 37-A, if am not mistaken) or goin’ all de way up Border Ave to Mannings Hill Rd just to get a seat to Cross Roads — at least, U motivated to excel thru de ruffness.
This is some serious venting yute! Well it’s the public transportation system that forced me to buy my car so early! I used to hate the packed buses especially early in the morning when I was going to work. Man just fresh and haffi rub up pon some mowly arm! Even though I’m paying through my teeth for the care, I’d do it again, just to avoid the bus. Only thing I miss though Is meeting random hot chicks on my way home.
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i guess a car is not an option….(ok put down the club…i was just kidding.)
I remember those days all too well Leon, I know how it is and it must be more challenging trying to get buses at random hours seeing that I doubt your classes start at 8am each day as was the case in high school. I agree with owen though, you have to juggle, I am little paranoid when it comes to taxis cheap or expensive but I used them occasionally.
Good luck yute
I don’t know this system, but in all my days, I’ve only come across 3 public transportation systems of redeeming facets; Paris, London and Washington D.C.
New York should be a whole lot better for the amount of people it needs to assist, and everywhere else basically bites, but I still haven’t visited many countries.
well well well…i take JUTC..but i take the premium services.. i mostly take them vfrom crossraods to new kingston tho (between work and school), nice A/C ride with dvd and radio…LOL..but God forbid one mornign mi miss mi drive….:(
The congestion seems somewhat equiivalent to the conditions that our ancestors experienced during THE MIDDLE PASSAGE from Africa to the Caribbean and the Americas during the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.One is of the view that it will only get worse because of the price of petrol, which will result in more people taking buses as opposed to driving.Good luck on the 75.