Last year, on July 8, the GDN carried a long‑awaited news about the modernisation of all bus stops, announcing that they would be air conditioned to protect passengers from the intense heat. It was presented as a revolutionary initiative by the bus company.
Although Covid-19 battered the world and left me and many others with moments of memory confusion – especially at my age – I still recall that around six to seven years ago, there was a similar announcement about air conditioned bus stops. Despite these memory challenges, I distinctly remember another encouraging report four to five years back stating that bus stops would also include cafeterias.
Yet today, except in three or four major stations, one cannot even find a bottle of water during the scorching month of July.
While the idea of spending 10-20 minutes in a cool shelter is much appreciated, I really wonder about its true benefit.
When I disembark at Manama Main Station, I must walk more than a kilometre under direct sun to reach my home behind Babasons, as no bus route serves my area. Route 42 is the only option, and it stops far from my residence. I am an old man and I struggle to understand why air conditioning for a few minutes is being prioritised. In earlier years, the old buses had a route that passed near my home, something the current ‘mega system’ does not provide.
The real need is not air conditioning, I believe. The majority of bus users are from the lower‑middle‑income and labour segments of society. They already work under the sun for long hours; air conditioned shelters are not their primary concern. What they truly need is better bus frequency and easier access to routes that take them to work.
More importantly, bus stops require structural redesign.
The other day, I visited the newly upgraded Central Market Bus Stop. At 11am, under blazing sun, I used it for the first time. I quickly realised an issue: buses enter from a blind kerb just a few yards away. From inside, passengers cannot see an approaching bus until it is right at the stop. The tinted glass prevents visibility from outside, making it easy for a driver to assume no passenger is waiting. Exiting the shelter within a few seconds is nearly impossible, which increases the risk of being missed.
I have experienced this before: once on Budaiya Road, the bus passed without stopping. After I submitted a written complaint, an officer from the company called to apologise. When I asked how he verified my story, he explained that they checked the bus CCTV, which clearly showed me standing and waving for the bus to stop. While I have always been civic‑minded and provided feedback, today such concerns no longer receive acknowledgment.
Additionally, the seating inside the new shelters is extremely uncomfortable, only about five inches wide and sliding. By contrast, the old concrete bus stop near DHL Juffair, in front of the Power Station, built decades ago, remains far more comfortable. It provides full protection from sun and rain, and stays surprisingly airy even during peak summer. The simple concrete benches at the Manama Post Office bus stop, though basic, are also far more comfortable than the new designs.
Mohammed
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