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by Nedra Vittachi

Bus travel has been a constant issue with Lankans.

More buses on the roads, more advantages for the people is a truism. Bus travel is the commonest form of travel. It is the cheapest and the only mode of transport for the majority of the people.

But must the buses on the roads be a menace to everyone else on the move? Even if you have a mile long traffic jam ahead of you the bus behind will blow its horn as if it were little boy blue out of control. They just fail to see beyond the car in front.

The horns too are not pleasant to hear. They are loud to the point of vulgarity and sound like the Devil bird over a loudspeaker. Why only bus horns are so obnoxious is anyone's guess.

They will race on the roads as if they were vying for the Grand Prix trophy. And zoom to a grinding halt two inches behind you.

If you are driving it is a frightening experience to watch a bus thrashing its way behind you and screeching to a stop almost atop your boot.

Then they will proceed to horn without breathing point to the extent of annoying you to such a high farenheight that you try and find even an inch of space to squeeze your way out of the way to give space to the high and mighty Lord of transport.

Private coaches are real pests in this game. They will squeeze in 100 people into a bus which can carry 70 and sometimes the bus tilts towards the section carrying more commuters most times reaching almost the ground.

And here is the pinnacle of the curse of busing -deaths! Almost everyday one reads of thousands of unnecessary deaths (Or should I say murder)?

Apart from the visuals the driver just doesn't give a fig about who he will run down in the quest of acquiring his commission. If he is justified in doing five trips and he can do ten trips for the cash - by zooming along at breakneck speed - he transforms into a Speedy Gonzales and merrily heaves along annihilating anything in his horizon.

As for travelling by bus, it is a talking point amongst the commuters. Last morning , a fellow journalist told me that when she was trying to get into a bus, a big burly man pushed her and she almost fell over.

Bus manners are almost nil. It is an accepted fact that there are not enough buses on the roads thereby posing a hazard where manners are concerned.

Once aboard buying a ticket (if any) is a chore. Earlier the conductor used to come round and punch his tickets, but now you have to wend your way to the big boss who just takes your money and unethically keeps the change, specially on a short run.

Of course, on a good day he might give you the change which is short changed. Private coaches are worse. They charge more and travel at such speed that getting to your destination alive sometimes is a miracle.

Once inside the bus pushing your way through is the only chance of getting ahead.

Old ladies and pregnant women have no chance of a breather. They are just shoved aside like an old pair of discarded shoes.

If they fall or even more horrendously fall out of the bus is no one's concern. Even the driver and the conductor don't give tuppence.

Getting off the bus is an equally menacing task. There are many who have sustained injuries doing so.

The unlucky few meet with their death!

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