Cash-free system for PSVs?

People travelling on ZRs and minibuses may soon have to pay with a debit or credit card or purchase tickets to do so, the group representing Public Service Vehicle (PSV) owners has declared.

This is one of the measures currently being “seriously” considered by officials in the sector as they seek to counter what appears to be an increase in robberies of privately-owned PSVs and omnibuses, Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael said.

“So far, we have had between five to six robberies with people wearing masks. And it is across the board because we are getting reports from some of our members across the Caribbean,” said the Caribbean transportation network member.

He told Barbados TODAY that while he did not expect any major changes to the current COVID-19 guidelines from Government, the sector had decided, as part of the protocols, to ask passengers to lower their masks upon entering the vehicles.

All drivers, conductors and passengers are required to wear a face mask, and PSV and omnibus operators are required to sanitize before and after loading passengers at the various bus terminals.

Last month COVID-19 Czar Richard Carter threatened to pull PSV operators off the road if their drivers, conductors and passengers did not observe the outlined protocols by wearing face masks at all times.

However, Raphael said while waiting for any possible changes to protocols AOPT had already instructed operators to ask individuals to show their face before entering the vehicles.

During the height of the pandemic PSVs and omnibuses were limited to carrying only 60 per cent of their seating capacity.

Raphael explained that a number of operators had reached a point where they were “afraid to work after 5 o’clock” in the evening because they were becoming increasingly concerned about their safety.

He said this has propelled the association to start working closely with other partners to create the “cashless system”, ensuring there will be less cash on the buses.

He quickly acknowledged that while this would not eliminate the use of cash, it would mean there might not be a need for conductors.

“We will see fewer conductors operating our buses the mere fact there is no cash. But with no cash there will be more discipline on the road . . . So we are definitely looking forward to this,” said Raphael.

Pointing out that discussions were in the very early stages, he said the PSV sector was hoping to start a trial programme “shortly”. “We are hoping that the public will view this as a step in the right direction,” he added.

He could not immediately say what form the “cashless” system would take, but said in addition to a ticket system, the use of credit and debit cards was not off the table.

“We believe it is a step in the right direction . . . The cash is creating some problems for us. It is a security issue on the road, particularly after 6 o’clock. We suspect with the unemployment situation high due to COVID-19, it is really causing us to be an easy target particularly those persons who are on lonesome roads,” he explained.

Last year, the state-run Transport Board implemented a cashless Travel Smart Cards pilot project, allowing passengers to purchase transferable tickets of 10, 14, 20 and 28 trips, with discounts ranging from 30 cents per ride to 50 cents per ride.

Raphael told Barbados TODAY he would soon be meeting with the Minister of Transport and the Attorney General to iron out a number of lingering issues affecting PSV operators and owners.

“For example, we have a number of our members saying they are awaiting route exchanges, they have applications in there for renewal of taxis; there are people who are actually on hold for transfer of permits. There is nothing happening at this stage and it is really frustrating our members,” he said, adding that past meetings with the Transport Authority have been very encouraging.

(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)