Thursday, September 10, 2009

Solution for Samoan Bus Dilemma

On Monday the 7th, while we were all grilling outside, Samoa decided to switch driving on the right (American) side of the road to the left (British) side. The primary rationale was it would allow Samoa to import cars more cheaply from the geographically closer Australia and New Zealand, rather than pay higher costs to import from the US and continental Europe.

But, like the NL West race (admittedly, that was a weak link to the Dodgers) nothing ever goes as smoothly as planned, right?

But two days later, a problem has emerged: What to do about the buses? All but 18 of the island’s buses have doors on the right side of the car, reports the BBC, which means they now open onto the middle of the road. The government has banned those buses from operating and according to Agence France Presse, there was a run on taxis.

The issue is the cost of modifying the buses to accommodate the recent road change. Bus operators did not want to pay for the modifications themselves and stalled on converting their buses. Now, the operators want Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to allow them to continue driving for three to six months, as they comply to the change. The Prime Minister said he would give an answer on Thursday.

To which I say, no need for modifications! Just have the bus drivers drive in reverse. Next problem, please!

photo: Reuters via the NYTimes

5 comments:

Kyle Baker said...

Amazing that this wasn't thought out more before the switchover.

Steve Sax said...

I think the very idea of a switchover is ridiculous in the first place...

Fred's Brim said...

change all of the streets to one-ways

rbnlaw said...

I thought all Samoans lived in either So. California, Oregon, or Utah. Who's still on the island?

They should be more like Tonga. No roads.

Kyle Baker said...

Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others.