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Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round
All over the streets and bumpy dirt roads of La Ceiba old U.S. school buses function to form a public/private bus system. Hundreds of old rejected yellow school buses that are no longer fit to transport school children in the U.S. maneuver the potholes of La Ceiba and take passengers here and there. These buses are privately owned and operated, but licensed by the city. They are used by school kids, shopping moms and blue collar workers.
Armenia Bonito is the turn around point for the “First of May” bus route. For 30 cents people can take one of the five rickety yellow buses that run this route into downtown. It usually takes over an hour (it takes us 25 minutes to drive in our truck).
Now there is a new option. The new “Executive Bus” operates one of their fancy new buses into Armenia Bonito. For 50 cents a passenger can enjoy a ride in an air-conditioned bus, with new seats and quality suspension. The trip is less bouncy over the dirt roads and is much faster. The doors even lock, providing better security against robbers. The residents love the new option. The competing bus drivers don’t like it so much. “They’re not safe.” A bus driver told Mike, “One of them exploded in the Capital city the other day.”
Fabled explosions aside, options are great for the consumer.
