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I visited St. John in late summer 2010, and am preparing to make another visit in Dec. 2012. But I am requesting an update on the Vitran bus situation for tourists. I and other tourists I knew attempted to take the Vitran buses in 2010. A driver refused me permission to board the bus at the terminus in downtown Cruz Bay, and another tourist stood for hours being passed by buses on the Centerline Rd. at the bus stop nearest Cinnamon Bay Campground--yes, he waved at each bus but got nowhere. I was informed by the bus driver downtown that tourists are not allowed on the bus, that we must take the much more expensive tourist shuttle. We tourists were not drunk or disorderly, and this was during daylight hours. Yet this website, and other websites and tour books list the Vitran bus as an option for tourists. What is the situation now, in 2012? Can I take the bus? I have taken local buses and trains all over North America, and in Europe and Belize with no problem. I would be grateful to anyone who could advise me. Also, if these buses continue to refuse to take tourists, then this website needs to indicate that.
There is no official "no tourists" rule. How can they tell a tourist from a local?
No one has ever posted this problem.
I would imagine it would be unlawful for a bus driver to prevent the public from taking public transportation.
Maybe you should be addressing this to the STJ Administrator or is she still on leave for using her office stationary to write a letter for someone she knew convicted of a crime to ask for leniency?
I'm confused by the statement, "waved at each bus." The bus runs every two hours, so I doubt that the person at Cinnamon waited that long for the next bus.
On STT there are safari buses (open-sided converted pick-up trucks) which are either unscheduled "dollar buses" with no designated bus stops or tour taxis; regular enclosed taxi vans; and obvious VITRAN buses which are clearly marked, air conditioned and are solely for public transportation with designated bus stops. On STJ the regular taxis are all safaris and there are none which are "dollar buses". The VITRAN buses run on a schedule but are infrequent and have very limited service to the North shore.
I wonder if the people who experienced problems maybe wrongfully assumed that the safaris on STJ were "dollar buses" and operated by VITRAN. That's the only thing I can think of as I've never before heard of anyone - either resident or visitor - being refused passage on a VITRAN bus. However, visitors on either island are cautioned against relying on VITRAN buses to get around as their schedules are erratic and their routes limited.
The tourist from Cinnamon Bay walked the mile-long hiking trail that connects the North Shore Road to Centerline and waited several hours as closed buses passed him on Centerline. It was not the open air dollar bus, it was the closed Vitran bus that would not stop. I was told quite plainly by the driver of a closed Vitran bus that tourists are not allowed on this bus, that we must take the dollar taxi. Both of us tourists have taken the open air dollar taxi on North Shore Rd., which I called the "tourist shuttle", with no problem, but that is several times more expensive. I am wonder when the tourists you know of took the bus--was it before or after 2010? Was if off season or in season? We had trouble off-season. That info would help a lot. Thanks so much. Also, local bus drivers in most towns around the world (like the town where I live) are savvy enough to know locals from regulars--they know their regular customers by sight and often by name, and also we tourists tend to dress differently, we ask different questions, carry different bags (or at least more of them!), and then there's good old racial profiling...
Bottom line, tourists are allowed on the bus.
Tourist are allowed. However, I don't doubt the accuracy of our story as the VITran system is highly un-predictable. The busses are frequently off schedule and sometimes don't run at all. In the past (over 10 years ago) I was stranded at salt pond and hitch-hiked back to ferry with my two small children. I am local to STT. (.You can imagine how their dad felt after I told him !) In theory, I am a big fan of the busses. I wish that the national park ran shuttles to the popular north shore beaches. All other popular national parks (yosimite/grand caynon, etc) run shuttles.The taxi lobby inVI is very powerful and seems to have much influence over policy.
I am so sorry the above incident occurred. From a practical standpoint y'all be better off renting a car. Take care and welcome back!
IF it has VITRAN written on the side it is a public bus.
I don't know about dollar taxi's in STJ so cannot comment.
Luckily, family lives there so seldom forced take a taxi van or the bus.
No dollar taxis on STJ only the dollar VITRAN bus and again yes tourist can take it (I am sitting in town looking at the tourists getting on the bus as I type this). Any other form of transportation is 1) rent a car 2) take the taxi (that look like the dollar busses in STT) at taxi rates $$$
Pia
I didn't think there were dollar taxi's in STJ!
The Taxi Association sure has STJ buttoned up and held hostage, especially with their rates and parking franchises which cost next to nothing while paying no road taxes!
Hope all those new 165 rental cars they plan on adding to STJ fleet will have somwhere to park.
You'd think they'd improve downtown parking and public transportation prior the influx of even more vehicles.
I want to share my experience . I went to India once and there is Nanda Devi where tourists are not allowed to go because Government do not want to take risk for the life of the foreigners specially.
jonyseer wrote:
I want to share my experience . I went to India once and there is Nanda Devi where tourists are not allowed to go because Government do not want to take risk for the life of the foreigners specially.
Well we don't have that sort of problem here!!!
Here is a blog entry about St. John VITRAN public transportation that includes island time schedule and a photo of what the buses look like. As it says, call VITRAN for an updated schedule.
http://www.greatexpectationsusvi.com/st-john-usvi/transportation/buses
I am not affiliated with the blog writer/owner.
I can guarantee that schedule has not been updated. The current schedule (it has been the schedule for about 11 months now) is.......
From Cruz Bay at 6am, 8am, 10:20am, 1:20pm, 3:20pm, 5:20pm and 7:20 pm and the reason I know this is because I sit in the information kiosk 3 days per week and must recite that schedule at least 4 times per day to locals and tourists alike. I also see the bus leave as it starts at my kiosk
Also no bus on Sunday and sometimes no bus on Saturday
Pia
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Photo of a full size VITRAN bus.
Pia, thanks for the updated bus schedule!
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Photo of open air safari taxis.
The nice ones are usually for private passengers. Some that are not in so great shape are the ones you will find on the dollar route on Stt. As said before there are NO dollar safaris on Stj.
Private safaris usually fill up wih passengers at docks and other spots around island (popular beaches, hotels, restaurants, etc.), so more than likely ther will not stop alongside the road.
One time when I was at Cinnamon Bay, safaris came along toward the end of day to pick up passengers. As many as the driver could fit in, including the front seat.
