Scary Bus Ride

If you ride a two-wheeler in Nepal, you probably already have the fear of being hit by a bus. Buses in Kathmandu are constantly in some sort of competition, overtaking every other vehicle coming their way. Not to mention, they stop wherever they want. They have no care for the traffic rules or any other person’s safety. Every day, multiple accidents happen, and unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by these very buses.

In 2023, the Nepal Police reported over 10,000 road accidents, with many involving public vehicles. These accidents are not just numbers. They are a result of careless driving, untrained and unqualified drivers, and zero accountability. Some drivers don’t even have the proper license. The co-conductors often appear drunk or out of control. I have personally seen conductors of these public buses reeking of alcohol. They also behave badly with the passengers, use foul language and even resort to swearing or scolding the passengers.  

The things inside the bus are not much better. With a blast of loud music, the whole bus ride feels like a concert rather than a public transport vehicle. In addition to loud music, passengers are jammed together, leaving no space to even stand properly. These buses carry passengers way beyond the bus’s capacity. But still, they keep stuffing people in.

As a student, this has affected me directly. Especially since my college is very strict about punctuality. These buses make it difficult to reach college on time. They stop too long at each stop, trying to gather as many passengers as possible to stuff them inside the bus. During the peak office hours, I have witnessed people hanging on the door of these buses, which can be life-threatening. These buses stop at random places, blocking roads and even causing traffic jams in some cases. 

When the bus fare is given, the conductors don’t return the correct change. Most of the time, the conductors pretend to forget or start scolding or acting rudely towards the passengers when they ask for the change back. It’s not just about the small amount of money, but the fairness and respect.

Many people don’t have other options. They take public rides because they need to go to work, to school or college, or home. But as a regular public bus passenger myself, I feel unsafe and stressed on every ride. This is not just my problem, but rather a problem of thousands of people who commute on public transport vehicles. And since it concerns so many people, this problem should be addressed properly by the concerned authorities. 

This problem cannot go on forever. The drivers and conductors should be trained and licensed properly. Public buses must follow safety limits and not carry more passengers than allowed. Music should be kept at a normal level, and rude behavior should not be accepted. 

It is even better if the government takes over, hiring qualified bus drivers and paying them monthly. This can help to resolve many problems, making transportation a smooth process for both drivers and passengers. Public buses should help people, not scare them. It’s time for the government and transport offices to step in and fix this mess.