Getting around Barbados by bus isn’t a difficult exercise, but it can be quite an experience. Buses are regular and plentiful, unless you live out in the country. This is because the main bus systems are based on two routes; to the city and out of the city, rather than across the country.
The bus stops are helpfully designed so you’ll know which direction you’re heading; they’re marked either ‘To City’ or ‘Out of City.’ This is great if you want to go either of those directions, but going across the country can involve some journeys going in to main towns to be able to go back out to another part of the country.
ZR vans (people carriers) seat around twelve people and run (literally) up and down the major routes of the country. They cost BDS$1.50 a journey however far you’re going and you pay the conductor as you leave. If you’re driving behind one they signal right when they’re stopping on the left, to prevent cars from overtaking when they’re full. Then they drive faster than the road allows to deliver their paying guests to their destination to be able to take someone else on board, unless they’re half empty, then they drive like they’re in a funeral procession; slow and even slower, which makes them just as difficult to pass. They’re looking for customers to fill up with, to make the owner’s journey worthwhile.
Often the driver and the owner are different people with the driver, in reality, renting the vehicle. Whoever accesses the ZR vans can learn, at full volume, the latest in local music and from around the islands. They don’t limit the songs to those suitable for the over eighteens.
The good news about the ZR vans (pronounced ZedR) is that they often take routes that the larger buses miss out or don’t frequent as often. They appear to be available at all times you’d want one.
Two other choices of buses are available. The mostly yellow buses with blue strips also cost $1.50, less for children and nothing for school children on their way to school or back home again, provided they’re wearing their school uniform. You take a seat and a conductor will come and collect your money.
The mostly blue buses are the government run transport buses. They have a money deposit slot near the front as you board; a receipt is then issued by the machine. They don’t give change, so beware to have the right money available.
The yellow and blue buses also drive quite fast, often faster than you’d prefer. Feel free to tell the driver, but there’s a chance he won’t agree with you.
We had an experience a few years back that needs sharing. We boarded what we thought was the right bus at the bus station, for our journey. Times tables and accuracy of those that exist are quite difficult to find. Unfortunately, when we thought the bus was going to turn off to the village we wanted, it, in fact, went another way to another village. When the bus reached its destination we were both still sat there. The driver asked us where we had wanted to go. We told him. To our great delight, he then took us to where we originally wanted to go. No-where in the world have I heard of this happening. He may have thought we were tourists and did us a favor, we don’t know. He may have just had a happy day. It may be something that routinely happens, but I wouldn’t expect it again!
