Vandalism in buses, bus shelters must stop
“Please take care of these public assets. They are there for your benefit. Let’s be vigilant and report all instances of vandalism to the Police.Let’s take pride in these assets. If we look after them, they will benefit us in the long run.”
Vandalism in buses and bus shelters has reached alarming proportions. It appears to be getting out of hand.
The latest bus company to be hit by this menace was Raiwaqa Buses. A high school student was caught redhanded vandalizing a bus seat which costs $1000 to replace.
The other disturbing development is the vandalizing of bus shelters.
A lot of thoughts and effort had gone into building people friendly bus shelters throughout the country. To see them get vandalized is unacceptable and heartbreaking.
The shelters are defaced and turned into uninviting structures.
Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), Jonathan Moore, has said that the cost of vandalism for the first half of this year is approximately $20,000.
The most common act of vandalism done on these bus shelters is graffiti. From explicit and graphical swears to friendship promises, this is a sore sight for the public. Mr Moore says “Whilst we are constructing new assets for communities, we are also concerned about the acts of vandalism on our road assets.”
FRA is building 125 urban and rural bus shelters. If this vandalism continues, all the bus shelters will be hit.
The shelters are built to protect the public from weather elements including the rain and sun.
They are designed to give people temporary comfort and peace while waiting for their buses.
The environment helps commuters have a good start to their journey and those disembarking a place they can rest before they head home.
The shelters near schools and communities have been prioritised in the construction stage because they provide a much needed service.
84 bus shelters around the country will be completed within the next seven months.
This is a request to all people: “Please take care of these public assets. They are there for your benefit. Let’s be vigilant and report all instances of vandalism to the Police.
Let’s take pride in these assets. If we look after them, they will benefit us in the long run.”
We must all declare “enough is enough”. We should also do the same for vandalism in buses.
It must stop and it will stop if we report those who are responsible to the Police and other relevant authorities.