Baghdad's Buses Back in Business

BAGHDAD, May 29, 2009 — -- Baghdad's teetering security situation has overshadowed the city for years since the United States invasion, including the transportation business.

But now that security has finally stabilized, Baghdad's famous red double-deckers are back, venturing to areas which were formerly hotbeds of violence. Bus destination tags now display the names of Baghdad west side neighborhoods like Ghazaliyah, Amiriyah, Jamia'a and Adil.

Only a few days ago employees, students and workers were astonished to see the red double decker driving along the street of Hay Al Jamia'a that used to be a very dangerous road for commuting because of roadside bombs and continuous Al Qaeda attacks.

"It will be lovely to see the old double deckers back in service, but we need more of these," said Nuha, a primary school teacher. "I had to wait for more than 30 minutes to catch a bus -- there should be more lines opened."

Although the red double decker brings back old memories some say that the 500 Iraqi Dinar (40 cents) fare is too expensive. Abu Ali, an elderly gentleman, told the conductor while adjusting his thick glasses, "this is too much. I prefer to take a mini bus that drives much faster and stops less often." To which the conductor replied, "it's the government fee."

Haider Al Obiedi, a car dealer, said that he can't use the double deckers because there is no bus route to his Al Amil neighborhood. "Even if there are government buses I won't be using them because they are slow and the mini buses are much faster and can avoid traffic," he said. "Besides, it's mandatory for red buses to stop at each bus station."

Although the iconic buses of Baghdad are the red double deckers, it seems that the newly imported yellow one-story buses are taking over the streets of Baghdad. The Iraqi Ministry of Transportation announced on its Web site that it has added 80 new yellow buses to the service. Amir Ismael, the transportation minister, took a ride in the new bus and declared, "Baghdadis will be seeing a new cheerful bus that looks much different than they used to see in the past."