Negril Map link:
http://www.travelsinjamaica.com/p/ne...verything.html
Negril Map link:
http://www.travelsinjamaica.com/p/ne...verything.html
LOL, at Smith!
LOVE the maps, thanks Mr. Smith!
Originally Posted by CarrieBean
I am puzzled as to why this is such a hard thing for some to accept. This is a very simple concept folks. Perhaps the reason why some think there is no impact on the transportation needs of the local populace is that those people are here for short periods of time and have no year round experience to draw from. What happens during busy season cannot be applied to slow times, and vice versa. Or maybe they are just not paying close enough attention to the reality to discern the truth.
The current route taxi system in Jamaica was NOT DESIGNED WITH VISITORS TO THE ISLAND IN MIND. While there is no rule, no law that states a tourist cannot use the route taxis (in fact, the drivers are required to pick up everyone who wants a ride - without discrimination), there is a common sense impact that must be present when one thinks about the issue.
There are clues for everyone to see that the route taxi public transportation was NOT designed with visitors in mind. The obvious first clue is visible to every single visitor who comes out of the airport - the public transportation bus stop is OUTSIDE the airport on the main road, not inside the airport where you arrive with your baggage. You would have to haul your bags outside the airport to get the public transportation. The previous government thought about changing this policy and create a bus/taxi stop inside the airport, but decided against it after they did an impact study. It was decided that it would put undue pressure on the current system. Clue number 1.
You will also notice the lack of "take public transportation" advertisements in any of the tourist literature or billboards in the tourist areas. Clue number 2.
A cynic or conspiracy theorist may try to claim this is a ploy created by the government and ex-pats alike to force the visitor into paying for charter taxis - that they are somehow in cahoots with the charter taxis to redirect money from unsuspecting route taxi drivers. Well, I suppose they are entitled to think this, but it is no more true than was all the scare about the Y2K bug that was supposed to cripple the planet at the beginning of this century. Back then, I told everyone who was freaking about the Y2K bug to think for one second. Banks had been offering 20-30 year mortgages, and these were running well into the next century since the 70's. You think they didnt anticipate this problem a long time before 1999? Simple reality check.
As with the above, logic will let you understand the truth here and not to give much weight to some uninformed beliefs from others.
Yesterday I was at the Corner Bar in order to count the number of taxis moving by there on the West End. In less than 8 minutes, I counted 13 route taxis and 5 charter taxis pass by. There is a sharp turn there so the taxis must slow down enough for me to read the wording on the taxi. The interesting factor was that only 5 of the route taxis had West End painted on the side. The other route taxis had designations from other areas. While technically they are driving the route illegally, this does show a very simple supply/demand relationship during busy season. The MAJORITY of the route taxis operating during this very short time period were not even supposed to be on that route.
As I have mentioned previously, there are a limited number of route taxis designated for each route, such as the West End (Smith even mentioned the West End designation on the taxi). The increase in demand during busy season in Negril is now encouraging other route taxis to service the West End. In addition to possibly making some of the West End route taxis not be as full as they might have been, all the other route taxis came from other routes. So now they are not servicing their own routes - which of course would have an impact on their route passengers. The local populace that was served by these route taxis are not being served during busy season. There is an impact for those people. This is simple deductive reasoning, no grand conspiracy required.
And then we have the issue of busy vs slow season. As stated, yesterday route taxis went by at a pace of about 1 every 30 seconds. During slow season, this is not the case. Passengers can wait many minutes in order to get a ride, sometimes 15 minutes or more. So, if that single route taxi that passes by is filled with tourists trying to save pocket change on a ride, then they may have to wait an additional 15 minutes before the next ride comes by. To claim there is no impact only means someone is not paying attention to the truth.
As for questioning the source - well, I live here. I have lived in Jamaica for nearly 20 years full time. I have friends who drive route, charter and tour vehicles, so I really have no personal interest in which one makes what money. Negril.com does have tour operators as clients - but they are not being discussed in this thread. Negril.com makes no income from route or charter drivers.
But lets take a second to check the sources of some of the other information. One of the proponents of the idea that there is no impact on the local populace when tourists take route taxis just last year was stating how fun "bike taxis" are to take and that their landlord happens to drive one. I pointed out that there are no legal bike taxis on the island and no visitor should take one. They said they would check with their landlord about this as they wouldnt do something that would put tourists at risk. It is interesting that there was no further defense of the bike taxis, that indeed there are no legal bike taxis on the island. Point here being just because you believe something does not make it so.
To address CarrieBean's comment, just a few years ago there was very little if any information on the internet about the illegal white plate taxis. Negril.com went on a mission to inform visitors to this reality since it had been too long overlooked. Thanks to the efforts of this website, we have educated thousands of travelers to Jamaica about taking only red plated taxis and that information is being spread on websites all over the net. This has happened in just a few years.
While you can think that "it would never be the case" that every single tourist would take a route taxi, the truth is that there could easily be enough of them doing it to seriously change the usefulness of the route taxis for the local population.
Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!
"The situation I am referring to is when a person is on the road, and WANTS a taxi to stop for them. But a white plate pulls up first, and you know you don't want that. Or a red plate pulls up but something doesn't look or feel right about the situation. "
I understand what you are saying - again, its never happened that way for me because I do not flag a taxi down until I see a red plate.
Where I'm flagging cabs though, and this might be the same sitch for you Lola, is NOT in a tourist zone. Its usually in my neighborhood. I'm recognized by many and I recognize many drivers. Even if I'm just standing somewhere waiting on something the drivers I know will always holler out to see if I need a ride.
As far as the debate as to whether or not tourists should use the route taxi system, I'll say it again - with the advent of the internet the cat's out of the bag on this one (I was taking route taxis before anyone even knew what they were. Its only within the past several years that they were talked about here on the 'net). I can only listen to my neighbors and friends here, see their point of view and share it - you all can do what you feel is right for you. Personally, as always happens here in Jamaica, after 30 years visiting after 10 years living here part-time - I'm always learning something new. If you go around without seeing all sides of an issue, staying stubborn in your thought, what is the use of traveling? Like Rob said, its about observing and paying attention - and keeping an open mind.
Since tourism began in the Negril area, Jamaicans from other areas of the island have come to the Negril area to participate in it. Haven't they impacted the public transportation system? Are there more residents in Negril now than there were in the past, also having an impact? Hasn't there been an increase in the number of route drivers over the years to accommodate these changes?
The current route taxi system in Jamaica was NOT DESIGNED WITH VISITORS TO THE ISLAND IN MIND.
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Interesting discussion.
Last edited by Lola; 02-13-2012 at 11:45 AM.
At dusk or dark I can't see if it is a red or white plate until it comes near. I don't recall if you've ever experienced not wanting to get in a particular red plate vehicle that pulls up after you have flagged them down.
Last edited by Lola; 02-13-2012 at 11:53 AM.
SMITH ~ my observation is the traffic/people moving picks up around 2 / 2:30 in the afternoon.
Thanks for the info Smith....didn't know about the hand signals! I'll have to try them out next week LOL
Lola,
I am missing the logic in your comments in defense of the idea that visitors to the island have no impact on the route taxi system.
Lets start with the first comment "much of what is or is/was built in Jamaica is not designed with visitors in mind". Say what? The first thing thing a visitor to Jamaica sees is the airport or the cruise docks. BOTH were designed with the visitor in mind. How can you suggest the first thing they see wasnt designed with them in mind. The new highway project, the first roads they travel on, are most certainly designed with tourists in mind. Why else would the first sections to be completed be the road to Negril, and the road to Ocho Rios - both from Montego Bay. All three of these places are major tourist destinations.
Every hotel or resort in Negril was designed with the visitor in mind. Virtually every restaurant in Negril was designed with the tourist in mind. The original charter taxi union, JUTA was designed with the tourist in mind.
The water treatment plant and the sewage system in Negril was designed with the tourists in mind. That is the main reason they were built in the first place. The population of Negril, being around 5000, would have never been enough residents to have the system built to the capacity it was or as early as it was built. And even the sidewalk example you bring up, it was not designed being broken up. When it was designed it was smooth. It only broke up over time. It may be rough to walk on at present, but what makes you think it was designed to be rough to walk on?
The next comments you make are interesting:
1 ) "During that same time period there were probably several West End taxis driving the Beach Road... Its not just tourists that purchase these diversions, locals do it too. Drivers take care of their personal business while they are out driving, as well. And possibly some of these route cars had been chartered for that particular drive."
2) "As you stated, this example is for slow season, so not a constant occurrence. Seeing a route car full of tourists could mean that route driver decided to carry them as a charter and not that they picked them up along the way. (I don't see any discussion here that route drivers shouldn't do this - many have 'chartered' signs they keep in their car)... Folks who visit as part of a group of travelers tend to use charter drivers with larger vehicles."
Both these comments are interesting to me to gain insight into what you are thinking. In the first one you suggest that Jamaicans have an impact on the route taxi system. I have to agree with that - of course Jamaicans have an impact on a system that was designed with them in mind. But if that is true and we both agree that it is, then logic dictates that the impact the tourist has on the system is ABOVE AND BEYOND that of the Jamaicans.
The second comment simply points out that even if the route taxi has decided to carry the tourists as a charter, then there would obviously be one less route taxi on the road at the moment to pick up the local residents. Thus, more impact on the route taxi system by tourists using a route taxi as a charter rather than using a charter taxi in the first place.
This comment "The off-route drivers are going to pick them up if they come through before an on-route car. There is no timed schedule to adhere to." doesnt make much sense to me. What off route taxi are you talking about? And why is it okay for someone who depends on this service daily to have to depend on some off-route taxi that may or may not exist? While there may not be a timed schedule, when you depend daily each year on a service like this to get to work, to pick up your kids, get groceries, etc., then you do become acquainted with the usual time frame to accomplish these trips. If there are less route taxis on your route because they are serving tourists, then your daily routine and schedule will be up set.
And yes, the number of residents in any given area determines the number of route taxis to serve that area. As mentioned, the Negril population is around 5000 residents. When the influx of tourists can increase by 10,000 people in a given week - this DOES have an impact on the system. You can pretend this is not the case, but the facts do not bear this out. The word "truth", as I used it, can be interchangeable with the meaning of the word "fact".
The truth in this situation is that very few, if any, route taxi operators will hesitate to give you a ride and accept your money. But just because they will accept your money does not mean there is no impact on the route taxi system.
As Monk and Big Frank have both pointed out, the charter taxis can be very competitive in price and are always more convenient to use. They take you from point a to point b in a private ride. They stop where you want to stop. They go where you want them to go.
Yes, you can save some pocket change and perhaps buy an extra beer or two with the money you save taking a route taxi and that is your right. There is no law against it. But to think that there is no impact on the system only means you are ignoring the obvious reality. You are not a Jamaican who relies on this system, you are on vacation.
Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!
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