Barbados Buses ...Which of the Barbados buses should you take? There are three main public transportation vehicles, Let's find out where they go...
Note:The routes and daily operating hours for all three modes vary.
Is it Convenient to Take A Bus in Barbados?
Depending on where you need to go. And your wallet won't feel a pinch!
A destination like Bridgetown (the Capital of Barbados) is easy to reach by any of these three public transport modes.
A Barbados bus ride costs BBD$1.50 each way (journey) anywhere you wish to travel on the island.
Taking the bus is not always the most convenient way of getting around Barbados. In some cases it takes two buses in Barbados to reach a single destination and two buses to return to your lodging.
The other thing is, sometimes Barbados bus routes can put you out (this is in very few instances).
Say you want to travel to somewhere that is close by but not logically within walking distance (the sun is too hot to even attempt going by foot) and there is no bus on that route going in that direction.
You will need to go in the opposite direction taking a bus to Bridgetown to get a bus passing by that destination.
The island is small so this isn’t too bad, providing where you are going has a frequent bus service.
These are valuable vacation hours we're dealing with.
Imagine how time consuming and tiring it can be trying to visit as many as the islands amazing attractions in a day. They probably won’t seem so amazing doing that.
The bus does come in handy, let’s look at the types of buses in Barbados (or public transport vehicles) available to work with when “bussing it”.
Transport Board Bus
The Transport Board is a government subsidized Barbados bus service.
Of the bus services in Barbados this is the most orderly.
Bus Times: The Transport Board bus service operates daily from 5:00am- 12:00am. This bus ride is calm between the hours of 9:30am -2:30pm (when most travelers are at work and at school), and 6:30pm-12:00am (when most commuters are at home).
Rush Hour Warning - Travelling on the “by pass” bus (by pass busses are those that travel from destination to destination without going to town.) for example the Oistins bus and Speightstown transport buses are referred to as by pass buses. Okay, warning: Attempting to travel on the ‘by pass’ bus during rush hour (the hours of 6:30am -9:00am and 4:30pm and 5:30pm, can be uncomfortable and testing. These buses (often live up to their name at these times) by passing individuals.
Transport Board Barbados Bus Routes: The Transport Board service covers all areas of the island and buses operate on scheduled times. The country: Buses servicing the country ( St Lucy, St.Andrew, St. Joseph, St.John, St.Philip etc.) run on the hour. The south and west coast: Those servicing town and the busy south and west coast areas ( St. Michael, St.James, St. Peter, Christ Church) run on the half hour. On evenings, after 6:00pm the by pass runs on the hour. Tip: Take the Transport Board bus in Barbados to and from Bridgetown the service is frequent and tends to be less crowded.
If you do wish to visit any of the islands attractions by bus, you can find out which bus terminal and which Transport Board bus will take you there.
To get a full transport board bus schedule, click here (a new window opens up), enter the attraction, then click search.
Advice: With the transport board bus you will need to have BBD$1.50 straight, the bus’ collection box takes dollar bills but will not issue change.
Barbados Mini Buses and Zr VansThe Barbados Minibus and Zr transport services can be classified as two radical, Barbados Buses. Both are privately operated, public transportation modes.
The good thing about these Barbados buses is that they operate on private, (often self determined) flexible times.
And you can easily take one in between the Transport Board buses sceduled service.
Thing is this flexibility can also be the bad thing about these Barbados bus services.
The Mini Bus
Which ones are the Mini buses? The yellow buses with the horizontal blue stripes- a size smaller than the transport board bus.
Bus Times:
The Mini buses operate on privately specified times but are often on the road as early as 6:00am.
They terminate service depending on the demand of traffic on the route. On regular days the service may end around 9:00pm.
During the hours of 9:30am -2:30pm and 6:30pm-12:00am (when most commuters are at home).
Rush Hour Warning- 6:30am -9:00am and 4:00pm and 5:30pm
Besides being packed full, during these times riding on the mini bus is nothing short of an adrenalin rush.
They have most people at the edge of their seat with the speed at which they operate… sometimes to fast for comfort.
It seems like these buses barely stop for less then a second to let people on and off. It is fascinating for 'first timers'.
Some Mini buses do play load reggae, dud and R&B music. In fact there is a “mini” bus culture all on its own.
Regular Hours Warning:
Doesn't seem like a win: win situation huh? Here goes, warning - Despite the hype of their speedy operation during rush hour. At times where demand is low, these buses travel extremely slow , searching for commuters. This is extremely frustrating when trying to get somewhere in time.
Barbados Mini Bus Routes:
The Mini buses unlike the Transport Board do not always follow a strict schedule for service, they focus on heavily traveled routes and do not cover as many areas of the island. The routes they frequently service are: The busy west and south coast areas and Bridgetown ( St. Peter, St.James, St.Michael, Christ Church, St.George). On your vacation, it is most convenient to take the Mini Bus:
On the West Coast to and from Speighstown, Holetown and Bridgetown. Take the Bridgetown bus to Holetown and Bridgetown Take the Speighstown Bus to Holetown and Speighstown
A conductor collects your money so when pay with dollar bills, you will get change back.
Tip: If you must, it is a good idea to take these buses in Barbados as an interim to and from Bridgetown, this route is heavily travelled and these buses service it frequently.
Advice: The Mini bus ride: Hold on tight, eat light before boarding and say your prayers for patience to survive this ride. The Zr Van
A ride on a ZR van is slightly similar to the Mini bus.
Bus Times: Zrs operate daily from approximately 6:00 am to 9:00am, slowing down significantly after that. Rush Hour Warning- These vans are small and carry approximately 15 passengers. so during rush hour(6:30am -9:00am and 4:00pm and 5:30pm), it is extremely difficult to get one at the begining or mid way along a route.
Plus, At times the ride is speedy, somewhat radical and not the most comfortable.
These vans have one door and pull up seats, sitting in those seats often means getting in and out to let out the people sitting behind you and a long route of this can be a bit of tiring exercise.
The routes Zr. Travel are very conservative between Christ Church and St. Michael to Bridgetown.
Zr s do not operate on schedule times and service their routes frequently.
On your vacation, if you are staying on the south coast, it is convenient to take a ZR to and from:
Bridgetown and Oistins. The Zr you will need to take to and from these places is # 11.
A conductor collects your fare so you will get change back from your dollar bills.
Tip: If you have a choice of seats getting on a ZR, try to get the front seat, the seats behind the driver or the one at the back right, that way you won’t have to get in and out, in and out if your destination is one of the last on the route.
Overall recommendation:
For a truly limitless and stress free way of getting around Barbaods, if you plan to make the most of your vacation
hire a Barbados rental car.
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