Should buses stop at bus stops?

A daily sight (and source of frustration) on my commute is seeing bus after bus lined up in the center of the road, traffic piling up behind it; trying to edge in to the right lane and traffic piling up in that lane - all the while, the driver nonchalantly awaits for passengers to get on and get off - and a swarm of commuters spreading in multiple directions - everywhere but inside the bus stand.

Why is it that we are not able to wait inside the bus stand and feel the need to reach out into the middle of the road to examine every bus that comes by?

Why is it that buses are not willing to come to a halt at a bus stop and feel the need to halt in the center of the road / or further away / or much before the bus stand?

Do buses stop like this because people are crowding around all over in front of the bus stop and leave no space for the bus? Or do people come out on to the road because buses never stop at the right place?

I don't know.

What I do know is that either which way, we shouldn't have this situation. Other cities in India itself are far better able to manage this simple issue - forget large ones like Bombay, even cities like Mangalore have it down pat - even down to queuing up (can we even think about such a possibility in Bangalore??).

If at all a start has to be made, it has to be made at BMTC - they need to strictly instruct their drivers to stop the buses at bus stops - not in the center, not before, not after - AT the bus stop.

Will Mr. Syed Zameer Pasha, MD of BMTC please hear my plea and do something about it?


Comments

Uma said…
Hehehehe!! 'We are like this wonly!!' That is what the BMTC honcho will tell you :)