Barbados | The Foreigner’s Guide to Understanding Bajan Buses!

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BY ANGELA HOWARD

Barbados 

Living in a country less than one third the size of the city of Los Angeles would make you think it would be easy to get around. But while there are many busses on the island, as a foreigner, they can be quite challenging to navigate. So here it is folks, “The Foreigner’s Guide to Understanding Bajan Buses!”   

Hold on tight, you’re in for a treat! Most buses in Barbados have rails and handles bolted to the walls and seats for people to hang on. You’ll want to hang on even while sitting down, trust me! Buses in Barbados can feel like roller coasters without seatbelts. 

Keep in mind that in Barbados people drive on the left side of the rode and the driver’s side is right. There have been many times in low traffic areas where I have waited for a bus on the wrong side of the road.  

 Most busses in Barbados do not have set time schedules. It would just put more stress on everyone if they did, because they would never be on time. Rather than leaving at a certain time, they leave once they have reached max (or close to max) capacity. If you get to a bus terminal and are directed to hop on an empty bus, you might be waiting for quite a while. There are three main types of busses in Barbados: ZRs (pronounced Zed-Rs), Minibuses, and Blue buses. Please note that all buses charge the same fare regardless of distance: $2 Barbados. 

ZR 

 ZRs, also known as music busses, are modified 14 passenger vans owned by a private company.

The original seats have usually been taken out, and new ones are brought in to maximize seating. I’ve traveled in ZRs with over 30 people packed into one. The “mate” who collects the money from passengers is a master of human Tetris. They always seem to find new innovative ways to cram more people inside to maximize profits. (There was even an event at UWI Sports Day called “Pack a ZR!”) These buses are well known for blasting Bajan music, zooming down roads at racing speeds, and stopping wherever people ask (as compared to at bus stops) even though getting off a bus anywhere other than a bus stop is illegal. They can be identified as white vans with a maroon stripe. The ZRs usually take shorter routes along the South and West Coasts are more commonly seen driving through residential neighborhoods. Usually there is a doorbell to press to signal to the ZR driver that you want to disembark. The horns that these buses use sound like squeaky brakes! While I would not recommend the ZRs if you are severely claustrophobic or prone to motion sickness, I think that they are a blast and everyone visiting Barbados should experience them! 

Pros:  

  • A true Bajan experience 
  • Pick up and drop off anywhere (do not need to wait at a bus stop) 
  • Often able to provide change for up to $50 Barbados if you do not have small change for bus fare 
  • Accept $1 US as fare payment 

Cons:  

  • Common to sit on a stranger’s laps to maximize space  
  • Do not have posted schedules or routes  
  • Can be very claustrophobic  
  • Predominantly travel on the south and west coasts

 Minibus

Next we have the Minibuses which can be identified as being yellow. I’ve been on quite a variety of Minibuses. Some are nicer than Californian public busses, and others are completely falling apart. You never know what you’re going to get until you get on the bus. While these busses run the occasional secluded route, I most frequently see them traveling from Bridgetown (the capital of Barbados also known as B-Town) in the south to Speightstown (SP-Town) in the north. While the Minibuses often accept bills larger than $2 Bajan, they do not always, so it is a good idea to try and have exact change when getting on these buses. Unlike the ZRs, the Minibuses do in fact pick up and drop off people predominantly at bus stops. Particularly during rush hour these buses get very full but seldom decline entry to new passengers. While locals are accustomed to this, I have seen tourists have panic attacks due to the capacity of the bus. Finally, in order to get on these buses you must gesture to the bus driver to stop by holding your arm out at a bus stop. If you simply wait at a bus stop and do not flag the bus down, they will not stop for you. In order to get off these buses, there are usually doorbells on the sides of the bus; however, sometimes you must press a lump in a black strip that lines the ceiling. (I assure you, that will make much more sense if you are on the bus!)  

Pros: 

  • Larger than ZRs 
  • Frequently run along the west coast (sometimes three will pass by within a five-minute period) 
  • Accept $1 US as fare payment 

 Cons:  

  • Very full during rush hour 
  • Do not always have change for bills larger than $2 Barbados  
  • Do not have posted schedules or routes 
  • Predominantly travel on the south and west coasts 

Blue Buses

Finally, on the bus front we have the blue government operated buses. These buses require exact change. If the smallest bill you have is $5 Barbados, then you are going to be out $3 after paying for bus fare. However, these buses do have an online posted schedule. That being said, I have never seen them run on time. The blue busses travel all over the island, whereas the Minibuses and ZRs are more heavily concentrated on the south and west coasts. In order to get off these buses, you usually have to pull a black string attached to the ceiling. If you press the red “stop” buttons, nothing happens (as I learned the hard way) and the bus will not drop you off at your intended destination. 

Pros: 

  • Travel all over the island 
  • Posted online schedules and routes 

Cons: 

  • Must have exact change 
  • Do not accept US dollars as payment 
  • Only pick up/drop off at bus stops  

Rather than buses having flashing neon signs with destinations like Californian buses, most Bajan buses have a laminated sheet of paper on the front windshield that states the bus’s final destination. The ZRs also have numbers on the back that indicate a certain route. If you’re ever unsure if your intended stop is on the route, simply ask the driver. They are very friendly. Very few minibuses and ZRs run on Sundays, as it is seen as a day of rest. 

Unfortunately Google Maps has not been programed to handle the Barbados public transit system due to unset schedules and constant changing routes. If you’re ever in doubt, just ask a local, they are always eager to lend a helping hand! 

Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx

Barbados | Church and the Farley Hill Experience

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BY ANGELA HOWARD

Barbados

In the spirit of trying new things while studying abroad, I decided to take up one of my Bajan friend’s request to accompany her to church. Growing up in a nondenominational Christian household, I am no stranger to attending church; however, I knew very little about the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. Although Anglicanism is the most popular denomination in Barbados, there are several different prevalent denominations, including Seventh Day Adventist.  

While studying abroad in Ghana last semester, religion was a very important part of the local culture. The exchange students would often joke that the locals would only want to talk about family, school, and religion. Although I did not attend church while living in Ghana, there was an on-campus organization that held a church service very close to my dorm. The services were often so loud that it felt like there were speakers broadcasting it into my dorm room. In Ghana, it was common to have church services on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, as well as all day on Saturdays and Sundays. On some occasions, we were actually happy that the electricity was out because it meant the service could not be broadcasted through giant speakers at full volume. Because we essentially attended church five days a week in Ghana without intending too, we didn’t feel the need to physically go to the service; but it was something on my Barbados bucket list because it is such as big part of the culture. 

My friend picked us up at 9:45 AM and we began our drive to the service. Unfortunately, we were rather underdressed for the occasion, but my friend said it didn’t matter because everyone knew we were visitors because we were the only people in the congregation who were Caucasian. It was a longer service because they were celebrating communion. Later I learned in the Seventh Day Adventist denomination, communion is celebrated at the beginning of each quarter. Although I could not understand the preacher very well, it was interesting to listen to him. I sat next to a very kind stranger who realized I couldn’t understand the preacher and let me read her Bible from her tablet. Halfway through the service, everyone from the church walked downstairs to wash each other’s feet, as is customary at Seventh Day Adventist services. At first I was apprehensive about touching a stranger’s feet, as I don’t like feet to begin with, but my friend’s daughter persuaded me to go with her. She taught me about the sentimentality aspect of cleaning someone else’s feet (which only consists of pouring clean cupped water over the top of someone’s feet). She taught me how the act symbolizes humility and is also a way used to “clear the air” after people have been fighting.  

After we went back up and listened to the rest of the service and the church members participated in communion. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. Some of my friend’s friends even offered to take us parasailing before we come back to California. Everyone wanted to meet us, we must have met over 60 different people. After the service, it is customary for everyone in the church to eat together. Everyone brings food, potluck style, and sits in small groups enjoying their feat. Although it is not required as part of the religion, Seventh Day Adventism encourages vegetarianism. We had the best vegetarian feast I could have ever imagined. We are even meeting up with one of the church members to learn how to make the (DELICIOUS) lentil patties and cashew/walnut spread! The community was very welcoming and overall it was a positive experience. 

After church, we went to Farley Hill National Park. For anyone visiting Barbados, Farley Hill is a must-see attraction. The view from the top was specular and we were able to see the grounds of the once regal Farley Hill. Despite it being a Saturday afternoon, the park was almost completely empty, which only added to its beauty and serenity.  

 

At the top of the hill there is a beautiful view overlooking Barbados. Unfortunately, it was a little bit foggy the day we went, so the view was obscured; but being a San Francisco Bay Area native, I’ve always enjoyed the fog. It was truly a site for sore eyes.  

 If you are in Barbados, one of the best parts about visiting Farley Hill is that right across the street is the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. While I have not yet gone, I’ve heard amazing things about it and when I visited wild life reserves in South Africa last November, they were one of the best highlights of the trip. 


The moral of the story here is don’t be afraid to try things that are totally different from your routine at home. You never know what experiences will find you. 

 

 

Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx