I don’t think that I would exaggerate too much if I have to say that the BMTC drivers and conductors use the Bangalore roads as though it belongs to them. I hope some responsible official of BMTC reads this article. There are quite a few points that needs to be brought out. Most of these are rather critical ones and not complementing BMTC.
1) The bus itself. Most of the buses being relatively new are in good shape. Ofcourse the breaks do make a jarring noise when applied. It scares the neighbourhood to a heart stopping moment. This is perphaps done with some purpose.
2) The automatic door. They are present for the sake of being there. Not of much use and does not really keep safety in mind. It is open most of the time, or when closed, it is opened whenever a passenger wants to hop off or hop on at places other than the bus stop itself.
3) The most favourite is the unauthorised stops. It is always at the intersections of main roads or at the beginning or end of a fly-over, or just after a traffic signal and when the light turns green, the bus driver is most courteous and promptly halts the bus for the dear passenger to get off or on the bus, while the rest of the vehicles is desparately wanting to proceed while the light is still green and bottled behind the bus. No amount of honking will move the dear driver. The poor hapless cop is mostly unable to enforce any discipline here.
4) Ever figured out what route number the bus has on the board? Often there are two sets of numbers painted. One is numerical and the other is alpha numerical. I would not venture for into unknown territories for sure. but do all have a choice?
5) The famous "right turn from the extreme left hand side" is what the BMTC driver is best at. Does he know how many lives are at risk? No, he doesn’t, Does he care? No, he doesn’t. Afterall if there is an accident, he can just walk away and has the entire corporation to back him, not the poor victim.
I must not just keep pointing out the ills. I wish to offer suggestions and hope that they are considered and implemented.
a) There must be a strictly no-halting at unauthorised stops(beginning & end of fly overs, after signal lights, at junctions and cross roads.
b) The safety door must at all time be closed. Opened only at authorised bus stops.
c) Lane cutting is dangerous for big vehicles, (simple common) and hence must be avoided.
d) We people have a family to support and hence my sincere request to make us live a few more years and not cut short by a BMTC bus.
e) Please do follow rules, and develop sense of respecting other road users.