April 18, 2001 – "It's the best ride for a dollar this side of Hawaii," V.I. Transit Authority St. John manager Donna Roberts jokes, but she could be right, and that says a lot about why, on St. John, more tourists than residents ride the public buses.
But while the visitors are happy to board the buses, their doing so poses a problem for island residents who rely on public transportation.
The $1 fare is good for a ride anywhere along the regular VITRAN route that begins at the Cruz Bay ferry dock and ends 12 miles and 45 minutes later at the Salt Pond beach. The same cost applies to the return trip.
Along the route, the ride cascades up and down narrow Centerline Road, over Gift Hill, past two V.I. National Park hiking trails, into Coral Bay, and then south through John's Folly. The scenery along the way is dazzling.
Maria Peter, visiting from New Jersey with her boyfriend, said, "We came into town from Cinnamon Bay and were told it's cheaper to take the bus to Coral Bay than a taxi."
Members of the Turco family, visiting from Rhode Island, said this is their first time visiting St. John, they love it, and friends told them about taking the bus to the Reef Bay Trail.
On almost any given day, a bus departing Cruz Bay will be filled with passengers, mostly tourists.
"We're staying on St. Thomas. We wanted to go to Salt Pond on St. John. We took the ferry over and were told about the bus service," Kathy, one of a trio of female tourists from Boston, said.
"It's a buck! It's cheap, and we can see the islands," her friend Eileen noted.
"It's also an adventure," fellow Bostonian Margaret added.
However, the popularity of bus riding among tourists doesn't sit well with locals who can literally be left cooling their heels. Once all the seats are taken, there's no more boarding.
"It bothers me," local bus rider Tashina said. "If I need a seat and all the tourists have filled the bus, you're not allowed to get on. Therefore, you have to wait a whole hour. Standing on the bus is not allowed."
A bus driver who asked not to be identified by name sided with the resident: "The buses we use on St. John are designed to sit 21 passengers," the driver said. "No one is allowed to stand. More and more tourists are using the buses, particularly to visit such sites as Cinnamon Bay Trail, Reef Bay Trail and Salt Pond. As more tourists use the buses, sometimes locals are displaced."
