DELIVER US FROM AILING BRT BUSES

That a new bus rapid transit(BRT) player is in Lagos is no news. It's pretty hard to miss the new glossy blue BRT buses with seats facing inwards. Like all new things,the bus is very attractive and smart. Watching it drive by is beautiful but immediately after it comes the old one dragging its weight, gladly sharing its smoke to all and sundry and generally looking like a death trap. Sadly I wish that had been an exaggeration; but alas it's not. Two days ago I witnessed this first hand. We'd been standing at one of the BRT terminal for what seemed like ages. The old BRT buses were not in sight but the new ones kept breezing by and sometimes stopping to let off passengers but not taking on any new ones. As it turned out, it's a different operation entirely, the old BRT tickets are not acceptable and people working with the new buses weren't available so passengers couldn't pay money to get in. ON my way back I decided to try out the new BRT bus, I discovered that you queue up without a ticket and when it gets to your turn you just pay money and get in. That set up kind of defeats the whole "Rapid" purpose of the BRT idea. After a long wait and hearing different opinions about the present government and our lack of maintenance culture, an old BRT finally wobbled by. Relieved, we all got in packed tightly like sardines ready to be shipped, however this shipment was going nowhere as the bus started and spurted to an abrupt stop. Some passengers came down attempting the herculean task of pushing the bus with a full load of passengers plus extra. It was a futile attempt as the bus stoutly refused to budge. Eventually all passengers were told to disembark and then cross over to the other side of traffic as the BRT Lane had been effectively blocked by the now obviously dead bus and that's when the drama unfolded. Everyone wanted to cross the road at the same time and there were oncoming cars that refused to stop because it was not yet red light. Crossing accomplished with too many near mishaps, it was time to get onto other old BRT buses that might have space. NONE had space. First one that stopped to take some of the passengers had a driver who did not think the passengers should fully be in the bus before he leaves. He started moving whilst people were still trying to get on and that left people falling over themselves and unto the floor and an old man being trampled under foot and almost crushed by the same bus. I got on the second bus that came along and two minutes after we left the terminal another accident occurred; this time involving a dispatch rider whose skin was neatly peeled to reveal fresh one. A gory sight it was. All through the journey we seemed to be one metre away from an accident(Lagos drivers are very angry people)The journey of thirty minutes seemed so long. Bottom line is : If the old BRT buses are to be phased off, it should be done now before a major catastrophe hits us; If not then whoever is in charge of maintenance should wake up from his slumber and get to work pronto.