News

BIKE TAXI MANIA

carlington wilmot photos - A relaxed student checks her phone while on a bike taxi in Little London, Westmoreland.

(Above) Kimberly Gayle after her accident. Kimberley in earlier days.

By KAVELLE ANGLIN-CHRISTIE, Staff Reporter

TWO WHEEL CABBIES are the most favoured mode of transport in Little London, Westmoreland for more than 10 years ­ and the police say they can do little about it.

The practice of bike taxis is illegal, dangerous ­ at least one little girl is suffering life long wounds ­ and a comical sight to see, but for Little Londoners its a way of life.

When THE STAR visited the area the first thing we saw was a bike unloading its five passengers. As the passengers came off their taxi, they were obviously unfazed by the fact that so many of them had to be packed on the bike. A group of four men sitting under a tree in front of three parked bikes, refused to give any information on their unusual mode of transportation.

"Who tell you seh we a bike taxi driver? No, sah, none of we that you see sit down here so ah nuh no driver. Talk to them man deh over there so," said one, pointing to one man getting off his bike.

Terrible condition

One bike operator said the practice started more than a decade ago, because the roads were in such a terrible condition, and cars were unable to traverse them. Now, years later, that the roads have been fixed and the practise seems to be roaring out of control. A journey from Broughton to Little London, costs between $40-$50 and takes about 10 minutes.

It therefore begs the question, why they refuse to use cars now that the roads have been repaired. "Well, is mainly because some of the man them don't have the money to buy a car right now; but like me, I am planning to buy one eventually," the operator said. He said the reason they chose to carry so many people on one bike, was because the residents needed to get where they were going - even without helmets. "The women don't like to wear the helmets because of them hair." When asked if they were ever given the option to choose, he said, "Yes man, but is just them don't want to wear it."

He however said they had the option of chartering a bike if they wanted to ride in comfort. "One time a man even charter me to go all the way into Montego Bay," he said, for a cost of $500.

So what happens when it rains? "Well they come anyway. Them usually just put on a raincoat and they are okay." THE STAR asked several residents why they insist on taking the bike taxis, and the general consensus was because there was no alternative. Now that there are, they say it was simply a way of life.

When THE STAR asked an operator if he thought the practice was a safe one, he said, "Yes man...nobody never get hurt yet." But the family of nine-year-old Kimberly Gayle would certainly disagree to that. She now suffers from the debilitating defects of partial paralysis after she was involved in a bike accident in late November.

Kimberly who is emerging from a state where she was totally dependent on others, is now learning to walk and talk again. "I had to be spending over $900 every week on pull-ups for her because she is not able to control her bladder and all that. But is the other day she say to me that she want to start wearing panties again," said her mother, Portia Davis.

Portia, says on the day of the accident Kimberly and her cousin, Lovel Reid, 8, were on their way to school, when the accident occurred. She says Kimberly was seated on the front of the bike, thus sustained more injuries than her cousin did, who was seated on the back. "When I hear the news, the majority of the people said she was dead," said Portia shaking her head.

Ran to hospital

Kimberly's aunt, Lovel's mother, Karen Curtis, said, "When I hear, mi say mi all run go ah the hospital with no panty on."

Kimberly and Lovel, were then rushed to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, where it was discovered that Kimberly's condition was critical. She was then taken to the University hospital, where a CT scan was done and they found that they had a cracked skull, which rested on her brain. She was taken to the Bustamante Children's Hospital for surgery. "She was in ICU for two weeks. She just lie there in a coma for so long. She was in the Ward from December 13 to February 2 of this year. She was not talking until the day before they release her," said Portia.

"When I asked the doctor if she going to recover, he told me plain as day that however I get her I should take her because she stopped breathing for four days, and a machine had to be breathing for her and she could have died," she said. During the interview Kimberly was a in high spirits, and attempted to spell her name, though with some difficulty, and after each try shouting, "Clap me! Clap me!"

"After the accident, not one person around here call me and ask if everything all right. All these months when I was in Kingston with Kimberly, no one call to see if I need anything. My good, good pickney spoil up," Portia lamented. Portia also said Kimberly needs physiotherapy which she will be starting soon. However, the cost is more than she can afford, because she is currently out of a job and the only source of income comes form Kimberly's father, who is in the United States.

According to Mr. Leo McEwan, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Transport, "The practice is an illegal one, and the Transport Authority is the body which licences vehicles, and they do not give taxi licences to bikes. So, it is obvious that they are acting in contravention to law."

When told of Kimberly's plight, he expressed not only surprise, but also concern at the fact that the bike taxis were allowed to continue, especially in the midst of anguish. "This only compounds the situation; especially because there will be no compensation for the families because most likely those bikes were not insured, or licensed."

he Little London Police, say they know that they know about the bike taxis, and that they are illegal. "We are trying to get rid of them, but we alone can't stop them, it's also up to the residents. When they know we are around, they stop and let off the passengers then ride off."

He said, "Sometimes the pillions even get upset and start to curse us, saying that we should leave the bike men alone, because is the only way they can make a living."

One of the men involved in Kimberly's case was charged, he however did not appear in court, and the other has not been charged as yet because we cannot find him," he said. He says the police have prosecuted both drivers and pillions on the bikes, but nothing has changed because the residents continue to support them. "The people are so opposed to a car taxi, it's as if they would prefer fi dead pon the bike than to stop."

"I want the practice cut out, clean, clean. They need to put in taxis or buses around here," said Karen, while Portia nodded holding Kimberly close. Portia is pleading for assistance to take care of Kimberly, and can be contacted at 640-1032, or, 868-5613.