A former doctor has called for an improved bus service to Dockyard on Sundays and holidays so he can volunteer at an addiction treatment centre.

The man, who spoke on condition of anonymity, pleaded for an improved public transportation schedule to support workers travelling to their places of employment.

However, the transport ministry said there was insufficient demand to add services.

The man said: “There is a critical transportation gap affecting essential workers at the Nelson Bascome Substance Abuse Treatment Centre and facilities in Dockyard.

“While our weekday bus service runs exceptionally well to accommodate tourists, the weekend and public holiday schedules leave local workforce commuters severely stranded.

“Many of us work strict 8am to 8pm shifts, seven days a week. The public bus schedules make it structurally impossible to commute safely and affordably.

“For instance, there are morning gaps on Sundays and holidays, the first Route 7 bus leaves Hamilton at 9.30am, and Route 8 leaves at 9.45am, making it impossible to arrive for an 8am shift.

“The evening gaps are that the last Sunday and holiday buses leave Dockyard at 6.20pm for bus Route 7 and 5.50pm for Route 8, leaving workers completely stranded when their shifts end at 8pm.”

He added: “With 15 fatal motor vehicle accidents recorded on Bermuda’s roads this year alone, many of us deliberately choose public transportation for safety. Furthermore, many workers simply cannot afford private motor vehicles.

“Given that many weekend Route 8 buses already run to Somerset [Watford Bridge], extending those runs by just three kilometres to Dockyard would fix this problem with minimal operational strain.

“We also urgently need a few more Route 8 buses before 9.45am on Sundays and holidays and later evening return services.”

The former doctor, now an addictions counsellor, insisted that his fellow volunteers had been finding it tough to arrange lifts with friends.

He said: “For the past few weeks I had to take cabs, which is quite costly. It is $35 from where I live.

“I am always hoping that on Sundays or holidays that there is someone working with me who has a car. I just want to put something back by volunteering and find it difficult.”

But the transport ministry said present data showed there was not enough demand for early-morning and evening service.

A statement said: “The ministry appreciates the concerns regarding Sunday and public holiday bus services between Hamilton and Dockyard.

“We recognise the challenges faced by shift workers, including employees of the Nelson Bascome Substance Abuse Treatment Centre, who rely on public transportation to commute safely and affordably to work.

“The ministry’s technical officers have reviewed the request for additional early morning and late evening services on routes 7 and 8.

“While we understand the difficulties outlined, current ridership data and operational assessments do not indicate sufficient passenger demand to support the introduction of additional Sunday and public holiday services at this time.

“Should travel patterns change and demand increase to levels that support additional services, the Department of Public Transportation will review the matter again.”