A jitney is a flexible form of public transport that combines the fixed route of a bus with the flexibility of a taxi. The term comes from the original five-cent fee for the service, which aimed to make it accessible to everyone. Jitneys can be run by public transport agencies or private operators, and are often used for transportation to events or by senior centers. Travelers should be aware of competitive rates and aggressive barkers.
A public transport is a form of public transport that is like a cross between a private taxi and a fully public bus. Passengers on a jitney are taken on a fixed route, like with a bus, but the schedule is flexible and the driver can make small detours to reach specific locations, making it similar to a taxi. The term “jitney” for this type of transportation is mostly seen in North America, and terms like “share taxi” are more common in other areas of the world.
The slang term “jitney” is a reference to a five-cent piece, the original fee for this service. This cheap fare was designed to make jitney use accessible to everyone in a community, giving people without cars access to transit without the constraints of a rigid bus route and schedule. It costs much more to assemble a jitney today, but the slang term has stuck, although nickel pieces are no longer called jitneys.
Jitney routes generally run along store lines and in other main areas, passing through transit hubs such as airports and bus terminals along with residential areas to pick up residents. The bus runs whenever it has enough passengers to justify a ride, and people can also call ahead to reserve a ride at a specific time on a particular day. For example, someone who needs to get a doctor’s appointment could arrange to use the jitney to get there. Groups can also book jitneys, as people can do when they want to arrive at the airport with luggage that makes it difficult for them to travel on a regular bus.
Some jitneys are run by public transport agencies as a supplement to buses for passengers who require more flexible transportation. A jitney can also be used to pick up overflow passengers or to replace a temporarily disabled or delayed bus so that the route is kept on time. A private service can also be run by a private operator, such as a taxi company, and some people refer to unlicensed taxis as jitneys. Senior centers and other organizations may also use jitneys to transport their residents or to transport people to various events.
Shared taxis can be a convenient service for commuters, allowing people to get around without incurring the high costs of taking a taxi and without having to navigate a complicated or confusing bus system. However, travelers should be aware that transportation services can have competitive rates, complete with very aggressive barkers who will try to arm travelers into a particular vehicle, and that travelers need to stay alert and steady to avoid ending up on a bus. expensive trip.
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