Many callers to the Bahamas Live radio talk show aired on 94.9 More FM on Thursday seemed to think so.
Themed around “The Road to Independence”, and hosted by Steve McKinney, Bahamas Live took calls from people offering various “solutions” to Nassau’s congested roads.
Nassau needs to become decentralized, some callers suggested, while others called for the complete revamp of the public transportation system.
The consensus was however that the overabundance of cars on Nassau’s busy streets is also creating environmental problems, paricularly given the size of New Providence Island.
‘Over 100,000 cars’
According to Mr McKinney, the situation is getting “worse and worse” as the months go by with car dealerships continuously importing new cars.
“I think we have over 100,000 cars on this island alone, and this island is only 21 by seven; and the truth be told, there is really no where to go and some families have seven cars. Let’s be honest now. The trouble is, if we don’t put something in place soon to deal with this problem, we’re going to have even more vexation and problems on our hands,” he said. “We going to make people monsters.”
He called for Bahamians to become more responsible and unselfish, to avoid problems down the road.
With Independence being celebrated next week, Mr McKinney said, he expected that Bahamians would show a sense of patriotism. He asked, “Do we want to be a Bahamian responsible for the growth and direction, and the growth and development of our country? We are building a country here, friends and we cannot build a country if the city has gone from ‘Island Boy’ status to Metropolitan Nassau.”
Mr. McKinney said that other countries have dealt with the matter and now enjoy a smooth transportation system. “A proper system of transportation must be implemented by the nation authorities so that it can be smoother,” he said.
A caller, identified only as Marcus, a student of architecture, said there needs to be regulation on vehicles and if possible, the older model of cars from the 70’s, 80’s be taken off the streets, and newer vehicles imported.
“The emissions would be better and you know, we don’t want to pollute our atmosphere. Secondly, everyone is looking for a quick fix to problems; but what the country or the government needs to is to improve the infrastructure. Nassau is a metropolitan place and as the population increases, the problems are only going to get worse. We can’t have a quick fix,” said Marcus.
As an architecture student, he continued, he was knowledgeable in urban design. Nassau was never planned, he said, “But I think the Government will take radical steps in redeveloping Nassau as a whole, and maybe decentralize everything.”
Mr. McKinney interjected that everyone had cars but there was nowhere to drive them.
“Where can you go driving on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, unless you pick a select time of 5:30 a.m., or very, very late at night?” he asked. “If we all decide to have a drive with our families on a Sunday afternoon, let’s say about 4:00 p.m., we will have the biggest grid in the history of The Bahamas,” he said. “It’s creating a madness because there are too many cars on the island. The Government, I believe, are the sole authorities who can step in and say, you know what, we have to put out a moratorium and we have to seriously sit down and debate this because this is destroying the quality of life for Bahamians,” he said.
Improve public transport
Marcus agreed, suggesting a quick fix in the meantime until the Government could find a solution to “this overwhelming problem.” he suggested that the public transportation system be improved to provide an alternative to the use of private transportation.
“Bahamians want their freedom to have their vehicle, but if someone can catch a bus that’s comfortable, efficient and safe from their home to Arawak Cay, I’m sure that it can be done,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there who would catch the bus.”
BY VANESSA C. ROLLE,Guardian Staff Reporter
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