Transport in Antigua and Barbuda
Encyclopedia
Antigua and Barbuda's transport systems include both public and privately run services. Road
s in the country are steep, winding, unpaved, and full of pothole
s. Driving is on the left-hand side. Volcanic ash
which sometimes covers roads can make them slippery. The speed limit is set at 40 mph, but it isn't well-enforced. Because there are few traffic signs, driving in unfamiliar areas can be confusing.
Public transportation vehicles contain the letters "BUS" for buses or "TX" for taxis on their yellow licence plates. The government regulates taxi service, setting fixed fares rather than using a metered system. Taxi cabs are supposed to keep a copy of the rates inside the vehicle. On Antigua, taxis are easily found, particularly at the airport and at major hotels. Many taxi drivers also will act as tour guides.
Bus
es operate from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily on Antigua
, running between the capital city, St. John's
, and various villages. However, buses do not stop at the airport
or the northern tourist area. Although departure times are often left up to the driver, buses generally follow a set schedule. Most buses have their routes posted in the front windows, and they're usually privately owned mini-vans seating about 15 people. St. John's has two bus stations, the East Bus Station near the Botanical Gardens on Independence Ave and another one on Market St. near the Central Market. Several buses are also available on Barbuda.
Tourists are allowed to rent cars, provided they have a valid driver's license
from their home country. They must first purchase a temporary driver's licence, which can often be arranged through rental agencies.
The country's major airport is V. C. Bird International Airport, which serves both international and local carriers. Located near St. John's on Antigua's northern coast, all commercial flights to the country first enter at this airport. With its recently built terminal building, constructed in 1981, its facilities are better than many airports in the Caribbean
. After arriving at the airport, travellers can take chartered flights or boat
s to Barbuda or other Caribbean destinations.
Several ports and harbours provide docking for cruise ship
s, sailboat
s, yacht
s, and other boats. All boats are required to enter in Antigua before continuing to Barbuda, and they must obtain a permit from the Port Authority to do so. Fees apply both for entering and docking in the country. The main port is at St. John's, receiving cruise ships and the Barbuda Express. The Barbuda Express travels between St. John's and Barbuda five days a week. Cruise ships also dock at Heritage Quay. English Harbour
, the site of Nelson's Dockyard
, began as an important port on Antigua centuries ago. Other ports and harbours include Jolly Harbour, Deepwater Harbour, High Point Crabbs Peninsula, and Codrington (Barbuda).
plantations. These are no longer used.
total:
1,165 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 182
paved:
384 km
unpaved:
781 km
country comparison to the world: 191
Airports - with paved runways:
total:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
under 914 m:
1 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
1
under 914 m:
1 (2008)
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s in the country are steep, winding, unpaved, and full of pothole
Pothole
A pothole is a type of disruption in the surface of a roadway where a portion of the road material has broken away, leaving a hole.- Formation :...
s. Driving is on the left-hand side. Volcanic ash
Volcanic ash
Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions, less than in diameter. There are three mechanisms of volcanic ash formation: gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions; thermal contraction from chilling on contact...
which sometimes covers roads can make them slippery. The speed limit is set at 40 mph, but it isn't well-enforced. Because there are few traffic signs, driving in unfamiliar areas can be confusing.
Public transportation vehicles contain the letters "BUS" for buses or "TX" for taxis on their yellow licence plates. The government regulates taxi service, setting fixed fares rather than using a metered system. Taxi cabs are supposed to keep a copy of the rates inside the vehicle. On Antigua, taxis are easily found, particularly at the airport and at major hotels. Many taxi drivers also will act as tour guides.
Bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es operate from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily on Antigua
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands...
, running between the capital city, St. John's
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
St John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, a country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. St John's is located at...
, and various villages. However, buses do not stop at the airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
or the northern tourist area. Although departure times are often left up to the driver, buses generally follow a set schedule. Most buses have their routes posted in the front windows, and they're usually privately owned mini-vans seating about 15 people. St. John's has two bus stations, the East Bus Station near the Botanical Gardens on Independence Ave and another one on Market St. near the Central Market. Several buses are also available on Barbuda.
West Bus Station Routes
- 12 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Belmont, Clarks Hill, Sea View Farm, Freemans Village.
- 13 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Belmont, Buckleys, Swetes Village, John Hughes.
- 29 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Belmont, Herberts.
- 42 - Valley Rd, Vivian Richards Street, Independence Drive, Factory Road, East Bus Station, Hailes Promenade, Factory Road, Airport Road, Coolidge, Free Trade Zone.
- 54 - Valley Rd, Vivian Richards Street, Independence Drive, Bishopgate Street, Cross Street, Friars Hill Road, Woods Mall.
- 15 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Belmont, Clarks Hill, All Saints Village, Liberta Village, terminating at Horsford Hill.
- 17 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Belmont, Clarks Hill, All Saints Village, Liberta Village, Falmouth, Cobbs Cross, English Harbour.
- 22 - Valley Road, Golden Grove, Big Creek, Ebenezer, Jennings, Bolans, Crabb Hill, Johnson Point, Urlings, Old Road.
- 50 - Valley Rd, Vivian Richards Street, Independence Drive, Bishopgate Street, Cross Street, Dickenson Bay Street, Villa, Yorks.
- 20 - Valley Road, Golden Grove, Big Creek, Ebenezer, Jennings, Bolans.
- 10 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Bendals.
- 61 1 Valley Road, Federation Road, Gray's Farm. Greenbay, Five Islands.
Tourists are allowed to rent cars, provided they have a valid driver's license
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
from their home country. They must first purchase a temporary driver's licence, which can often be arranged through rental agencies.
The country's major airport is V. C. Bird International Airport, which serves both international and local carriers. Located near St. John's on Antigua's northern coast, all commercial flights to the country first enter at this airport. With its recently built terminal building, constructed in 1981, its facilities are better than many airports in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. After arriving at the airport, travellers can take chartered flights or boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
s to Barbuda or other Caribbean destinations.
Several ports and harbours provide docking for cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s, sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
s, yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s, and other boats. All boats are required to enter in Antigua before continuing to Barbuda, and they must obtain a permit from the Port Authority to do so. Fees apply both for entering and docking in the country. The main port is at St. John's, receiving cruise ships and the Barbuda Express. The Barbuda Express travels between St. John's and Barbuda five days a week. Cruise ships also dock at Heritage Quay. English Harbour
English Harbour
English Harbour is a settlement on the island of Antigua, in the extreme south of the island. It takes its name from the nearby harbour in which the Royal Navy established its base of operations for the area during the eighteenth century. Its population is 759 .English Harbour is a centre of...
, the site of Nelson's Dockyard
Nelson's Dockyard
Nelson's Dockyard is a cultural heritage site and marina in English Harbour, Antigua. It is part of Nelson's Dockyard National Park, which also contains Clarence House and Shirley Heights...
, began as an important port on Antigua centuries ago. Other ports and harbours include Jolly Harbour, Deepwater Harbour, High Point Crabbs Peninsula, and Codrington (Barbuda).
Railways
There were formerly around 80km of narrowgauge railways for sugarcaneSugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
plantations. These are no longer used.
Roads
total:
1,165 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 182
paved:
384 km
unpaved:
781 km
Airports
3 (2008)country comparison to the world: 191
Airports - with paved runways:
total:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
under 914 m:
1 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
1
under 914 m:
1 (2008)
See also
- Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands...
- History of Antigua and BarbudaHistory of Antigua and BarbudaThe history of Antigua and Barbuda can be separated into three distinct eras. In the first, the islands were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The islands were neglected by the first wave of European colonisation, but were settled by England in 1632. Under British control, the...
- Economy of Antigua and BarbudaEconomy of Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda's economy is service-based, with tourism and government services representing the key sources of employment and income. Tourism accounts directly or indirectly for more than half of GDP and is also the principal earner of foreign exchange in Antigua and Barbuda...