By Fatmata Binta Sow

Despite the commissioning of the ‘waka fine’ government buses, residents in the capital Freetown have been expressing mixed feelings on some realities in the operation of the said buses and the transportation sector in general.

Hawa Kargbo, a shop attendant, said that she finds it ‘frustrating and inconvenient’, especially during peak hours when traffic can be quite heavy.

“I have been scolded many times for being late which is because of the traffic,” she said, adding that no matter how early she wakes up in the morning to avoid the traffic, she would always end up being late.

Kadi Turay a businesswoman who lives at Waterloo in the outskirt of the capital but does business in the central part of Freetown, cited traffic congestion, limited public transportation options and inadequate road infrastructure as major challenges in the transport sector. “The heavy traffic can make commuting time-consuming, and the lack of reliable public transportation can make it difficult for people to get around quickly conveniently. The condition of some roads is terrible, especially during the rainy season when flooding do occur,” she explained.

Many have said the traffic congestion in some part of the city is due to the change or redirection of traffic flow for easy movement of the recently commissioned ‘waka fine’ government buses.

Notwithstanding the challenges, Ami Sesay, a schoolgirl, appreciates the effort of government to improve the transportation system, citing the introduction of new “waka fine” buses and traffic lights.

It seems that there’s a general desire for more reliable and efficient transportation options, especially for those who rely on public transport.

These challenges impact the daily lives and livelihood of people in Freetown, making it important to explore solutions to make transportation more accessibility and efficiency.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)