Kuwait Public Transportation
There were two influences that came together for this post. First, a show on BBC about green taxes supporting green initiatives, like public transportation. Second, last night I saw a Kuwait public bus.
Does it seem to you that the buses in Kuwait are looking cleaner than a couple years ago? The one I saw looked new, was undefaced, looked modern, and the passengers on it looked orderly, cool and happy. There were no women.
So here is my question to you – what would it take to get you to use public transportation rather than driving your own car every day?
I have a shameful confession. I didn’t even learn to drive until I was 25. I didn’t need to. I was in Germany when I hit the driving age, and there was public transportation at reasonable prices nearly everywhere I needed to go. And it was trolleys; trolleys are a lot of fun. When I went off to university, I ended up in Seattle, which also had excellent public transportaton – in Seattle, public transportation is all integrated and includes buses, trolleys and ferries across the Sound.
The buses ran on time. Occasionally, I would hate the walk to the bus stop on a cold rainy day with a driving wind (hard on the hairstyle), but for the most part, the buses ran on time, and I could read or plan my work day on the way to work. I didn’t mind not driving, at least not much. When I did, I learned to drive.
What are the barriers to public transportation in Kuwait? What would it take to make me want to use public transportation?
First, due to the extreme weather, I would want almost door-to-door transportation. This could be done with a train/trolley system where you drive to a Park and Ride spot in your air conditioned car and then jump on an air conditioned trolley or bus. The bus or trolley would need to transit in an air conditioned facility, where we could switch to a mini bus which would drop us within half a block of our destination, i.e. frequent stops.
The system would have to have a schedule, to which it kept rigorously and reliably.
The system would have to have redundancies and back-ups, because mechanical failures and equipment failures happen.
The system would have to have well trained, knowledgable bus drivers who spoke some few words in multiple languages.
The system would have to have protected, non-damagable cameras on every trolley and bus, and would have to commit to prosecuting vandals and people who could not behave themselves on the bus.
It might have to have separate seating for unaccompanied women. *Sigh* It seems to be a fact of life here that women are fair game for harassment. I am thinking there could be advertisements along the upper over-window area, like in London and Germany, and some qur’anic inscriptions about respect for women. And maybe also the environment. Every vehicle would need to have at least one trashcan.
To have a usuable transportation system would require, also, a nationwide campaign for respecting the law, and rules. It would also need a nationwide public-stewardship educational program, “this is your country, keep it clean, no littering, etc.”
And it would need methodical, impartial enforcement of the laws. That would be a whole separate campaign, educating the public to respect the law enforcement officers (in the last two weeks, there have been multiple reports of police officers being beaten by citizens, police officers! Unthinkable!) And there would need to be a parallel educational campaign for law-enforcement, training on what the law is (i.e. a police officer is not “insulted” by being passed by a taxi that is under the speed limit) and their mission – and I think policework is a holy mission – to see that power is not abused, the weak are protected against the bullies, and that the laws are enforced gently and impartially.
Let’s face it, driving in Kuwait can be a real drag. Many times of the day you are caught in gridlock, there are yahoos on the road totally lacking in brains, there are drunks and druggies on the road – and parking is a nightmare. Public transportation could be a godsend.
And just to show we are serious, let’s make it FREE! How is that for an incentive?
When I was going to live in Saudi Arabia, my primary concern was not being able to drive. I quickly learned it wasn’t so bad. There was a well stocked small store on our beautiful compound, and you saw all your friends there, and there was a message board, and a video store, a laundry, and most of the basics. There was a shopping bus that ran twice a day, and a group that met once a month to set up the shopping bus schedule, so it went where people wanted to go.
In addition, when you needed a car and driver, the compound had a few available, you could reserve them for a very reasonable fee.
It worked beautifully.
There is potential in Kuwait for a visionary transportation system. What would make it work for YOU?
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When they get better bus drivers, then I’ll get on that bus. These morons drive like maniacs.
I’m big on public transport myself, I used a lot of buses & trains back in the U.S. & Egypt rather than cabs. (Even got on the the good old Greyhound!)
if we’re talking about taxi’s they’ll cost more than what you’ll pay for filling your car’s gas tank for a week,,,
and if you’re talking about buses, imagen you and your 6 family member with kids and all of you sitting in the bus, it’s scary, this kid running and this one is crying and this one is playing with the doors, and beside that it’ll take more time to get to where you want to go,,,
in your own car you’ll get to the place to you want in 15 mintues, in the bus you’ll get there in an hour or so, i use buses to transport from place to place in egypt cause it’s faster than the old taxi’s 😡 but those buses don’t take me everywhere i want so some times i have to use taxi’s, and that can’t be done here.
Seems like you got angles covered and had your share of serious thoughts, lovely scenario.
Only if dreams can become true
Well if that was the case I’d probably consider it. Personally I prefer control. Scheduling my time around a bus schedule doesn’t give me much control.
Я – Yeh, I’ve been surprised at how aggressive and reckless they are. Mostly you think of bus drivers as being protective of their passengers. I guess we need to add more training to the list! Good point.
Outlaw – I’m really talking about trains, trolleys and buses here. I think it could work, in Kuwait, especially if it were air conditioned and provided free, as a public service. Kuwait could set a world-standard; it would just take some visionary planning, commitment, and a stringent fraud-and-excess oversight!
Touche – I’m a reader. It would give me more reading time! Isn’t it a great dream? And it COULD come true!
N. – What if you could count on the buses/trains to run approximately (5-10 minutes leeway) on time? What if they were clean and orderly, and all the passengers minded their own business and kids were kept under control and no one trashed the interiors?
I’d still think about it, again, mostly it is about controlling the environment. However, in truth, I would probably take the bus. Honestly, I loved public transport in the U.S. because I could grab my book and not care much about going from place to place, and I could catch up on my reading that way.
However, now, I have my audio books & lectures which are keeping me busy in my car while driving. Hmm. Tough call. But in the end, if it was exactly how you described then most probably I’d take the bus. I don’t have anything against public transport as a means of transportation. 😀
slam sir
i am intresting busniess in kuwait plz send me what profit is public transport per month just initiol one bus strating
if u help me this i very very thanks full for u i am waiting your reply thanks