Dear Sir,

This morning (January 20), I drove my wife to work. Ordinarily, not a momentous event, but it certainly is one that is becoming more frequently necessary, and I wonder if a lack of ordinary common courtesy is a contributing factor.

It isn’t as though there aren’t public transportation options: there’s a bus stop at the end of the road, and a ferry stop just over the hill.

However, after the strength of last night’s winds, my wife felt certain our ferry stop would be cancelled.

We have no way of knowing for certain, sadly, because the ferry service generally does not publicise that information to the media or on its website.

For example, it wasn’t until after my wife was seated on the ferry last night that they notified passengers they were cancelling all stops but Salt Kettle.

Thus, I had the unenviable experience of searching for my wife along Harbour Road during rush hour, in the dark, far from home.

Locating her was made more difficult because the signage for that stop — well, road, really, as the stop is well back from the road — is not only unlit but is also buried deep within a significant amount of overgrown shrubbery. As it was, if she hadn’t dodged oncoming traffic in the dark to cross the road, I might have missed her.

Which left her with a dilemma this morning: risk the ferry, or try for the bus?

After last night, the ferry was out. So that left the bus.

Unfortunately, my wife is disabled and her experiences on the bus have not been positive.

Because of our location, the bus is generally full when she boards, and she has reported having to stand, unsteadily, barely supported by her cane, while men — young and old — sit, refusing to offer her a seat. This has happened numerous times; frequently enough that she no longer wishes to use the bus, as she now knows the physical toll she will endure by having to stand for the journey.

So, this morning I drove her again — dutifully, cheerfully. We sat in traffic, adding to the congestion, being generally less efficient with our day and pondering some interesting questions.

Questions like: what if the ferry service made an effort to let people know before passengers boarded that stops would be cancelled? It’s not easy for a disabled person to rush off at the last minute to make alternate arrangements.

Or, what if those responsible for doing so felt it was important that road markers were maintained, out of consideration for the safety of travellers?

Or, what if notions of chivalry, or simple courtesy, more frequently moved people to show concern to fellow human beings who are under obvious physical difficulty?

Or, how much of the congestion — and the attendant pollution, and expense — on our island could be reduced if public transportation was a more pleasant, and generally courteous, experience?

I’m not sure if any others have pondered these questions.

It sure would be encouraging, however, to see more people trying to answer them.

ALWAYS HOPEFUL