Editing Transport in the Bahamas

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is a legitimate description when the title is already adequate; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
This article talks about '''transportation in the [[The Bahamas|Bahamas]]''', a North American [[archipelagic state]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

==Roadways==
Approximately {{convert|2718|km|mi}} of road in the Bahamas is classified as [[highway]]. Of these, approximately {{convert|1560|km|mi}} are paved. Drivers drive on the left. [[Golf carts]] are common in certain low traffic residential communities, resorts, and shopping areas away from main roads.

The Sustainable Nassau Action Plan published a report in 2022 suggesting the number of new cars on [[New Providence]] over course of the 2010s outpaced population growth, and urged officials to take measures to move away from [[car dependency]] and car-oriented development, and decrease congestion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/apr/13/nassau-auto-pool-rises-faster-population/|title=Nassau auto pool rises faster than population|journal=The Tribune|first=Neil|last=Hartnell|date=13 April 2022|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref>

==Public transport==
===Buses===
Privately operated licensed [[Share taxi|jitneys]] are the main mode of public transport and way to get around at a low cost, with rides ranging from $1 to 3. Bus stops typically contain a bench shaded by a yellow and white kiosk. Jitneys can be identified by the route and number displayed on the vehicle.

In 2017, the government launched a pilot programme to unify the different routes under one bus system among other improvements such as clearer signage and timetables.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ewnews.com/jitney-drivers-desperate-for-new-bussing-system|title=Jitney drivers desperate for new bussing system|journal=Eyewitness News|date=26 June 2018|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/gov/government/news/government%20to%20establish%20unified%20bus%20system/!ut/p/b1/|title=Government to Establish Unified Bus System Pre-Paid Electric Metering on the Drawing Board|website=The Government of the Bahamas|first=Matt|last=Maura|date=13 July 2017|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref>

In 2023, the Bahamas Unified Public Transportation Company (UPTC) and Bluestone Labs will roll out a unified [[Ridesharing company|ridesharing]]-style digital system. The new UPTC Jitney Pass, available through the Bluestone B-ID app, will cover over 40 routes, provide a routing system and live updates, and eventually phase out cash payments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ewnews.com/digital-unified-public-bus-system-rollout-set-for-2023|title=Digital unified public bus system rollout set for 2023|journal=Eyewitness News|first=Ava|last=Turnquest|date=13 December 2022|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref> UPTC president Harrison Moxey stated in February 2023 that the [[dispatch centre]] was near completion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/21/unified-bus-dispatch-centre-close-ready/|title=Unified bus dispatch centre close to ready|journal=The Tribune|first=Youri|last=Kemp|date=21 February 2023|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref>

===Taxis and shuttles===
For those who do not own or rent a car, taxis with capped fares are available. Many hotels and resorts have their own shuttle services to the airport, beach (if they are not directly on a beach), and other destinations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda2_00018a.htm|title=Transportation Guide in Nassau, Bahamas|website=Bermuda Attractions|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref>

==Waterways==
===Ferries===
Ferry and water taxi services are found throughout the Bahamas, particularly services that operate between New Providence and the Out Islands. Other ferries connect Downtown Nassau to Paradise Island; [[Great Abaco]] to its nearby cays; Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay; and South Bimini Airport to North Bimini's resort town. There are also water taxi services in the Exumas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aarp.org/travel/destinations/international/bahamas/info-2018/transportation.html|title=How to Get Around the Bahamas|website=AARP|date=22 June 2022|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref>

===Ports and harbours===
[[Image:Prince George Wharf in Nassau Harbor.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Cruise ships at Nassau's Prince George Wharf.]]
[[Marina]]s and [[harbours]] are plentiful on The Bahamas islands, making aquatic travel an easy way to navigate between the islands group. Boat travel can be the only way to reach some of the smaller islands. Travelers entering the island will need to clear customs first,  but boatsmen can enter any of the following ports of entry and harbours in The Bahamas:
* '''[[Abaco Islands]]''': [[Green Turtle Cay]], [[Marsh Harbour]], Spanish Cay, [[Treasure Cay]], or [[Walker's Cay]]
* '''[[Berry Islands]]''': Chub Cay and [[Great Harbour Cay]]
* '''[[Bimini]]''': [[Alice Town]]
* '''[[Cat Cays]]''': Hawksnest Marina
* '''[[Eleuthera]]''': [[Governor's Harbour]], [[Harbour Island, Bahamas|Harbour Island]], Rock Sound, or [[Spanish Wells]]
* '''[[Exuma]]''': George Town
* '''[[Grand Bahama Island]]''': [[Freeport, Bahamas|Freeport]] Harbour, Lucayan Marina Village and Port [[Lucaya, Bahamas|Lucaya]], or Old Bahama Bay at [[West End, Grand Bahama|West End]]
* '''[[Inagua]]''': [[Matthew Town]]
* '''[[Long Island, Bahamas|Long Island]]''': Stella Maris Airport
* '''[[Mayaguana]]''': [[Abraham's Bay]]
* '''[[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]/[[New Providence Island]]''': Any marina
* '''[[San Salvador Island|San Salvador]]''': Cockburn Town

Facilities catering to large passenger [[cruise ship]]s are located on Grand Bahama Island and New Providence.  The Lucayan Harbour Cruise Facility in Freeport<ref>[http://gbpa.com/home/index.php?option=com_flippingbook&view=book&id=2%3Avision-meets-opportunity&catid=1%3Agbpa-publications&Itemid=85 "Grand Bahama - Vision Meets Opportunity"], page 10. [http://gbpa.com/ ''Grand Bahama Port Authority''.] Retrieved March 17, 2010.</ref> and Nassau harbour's Prince George Wharf are built specifically to handle multiple modern cruise ships at one time.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}  Additionally, several major cruise line corporations have each purchased an uninhabited island which they now operate as private island destinations available exclusively to their respective ships.  These include [[Great Stirrup Cay]], owned by [[Norwegian Cruise Line]], [[Little Stirrup Cay]] otherwise known as [[Royal Caribbean International]]'s "Coco Cay", [[Carnival Corporation & plc|Carnival Corporation's]] [[Little San Salvador Island]] or "Half Moon Cay", and [[Castaway Cay]], of [[Disney Cruise Line]].  Of these, only Castaway Cay offers ships an actual pier for docking.  The others use [[Ship's tender|tender boats]] to service ships anchored off shore.

===Merchant marine===
{{See also|Bahamas Maritime Authority}}
Total: 1,440 (2017 - CIA World Factbook)
By type: bulk carrier 335, container ship 53, general cargo 98, oil tanker 284, other 670 (2017)

The Bahamas are one of the world's top five [[flag of convenience]] shipping registries.

==Airports==
{{See also|List of airports in the Bahamas}}

The main [[airports]] on the islands are [[Lynden Pindling International Airport]] on New Providence, [[Grand Bahama International Airport]] on Grand Bahama Island, and [[Marsh Harbour Airport|Marsh Harbour International Airport]] on Abaco Island.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Out of 62 airports in all, 23 have paved runways, of which there are two that are over 3,047 meters long.

Airports with paved runways:
:''total:'' 23
:''over 3,047 m:'' 2
:''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 4
:''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 11
:''914 to 1,523 m:'' 6 (2008)

Airports with unpaved runways:
:''total:'' 39
:''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 5
:''914 to 1,523 m:'' 12
:''under 914 m:'' 22 (2008)

===Airlines===
{{See also|List of airlines of the Bahamas}}

[[Bahamasair]] is the national [[flag carrier]] airline of the Bahamas.<ref>[http://up.bahamasair.com/about_bahamasair.php "About Bahamasair".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330111456/http://up.bahamasair.com/about_bahamasair.php |date=2009-03-30 }} [http://up.bahamasair.com/ ''Bahamasair''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324232922/http://up.bahamasair.com/ |date=2010-03-24 }} Retrieved March 17, 2010.</ref>

===Heliports===
A [[heliport]] is located on [[Paradise Island]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flare.com/beauty/spotlight-on-nassau-bahamas/|title=Spotlight on Nassau, Bahamas! - Flare|website=www.flare.com|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref> as well as other smaller islands, such as the various [[cruise line]] private islands.

==Railways==
<!--linked section to Rail transport in the Bahamas-->
[[File:Bahamas timber company locomotive.jpg|thumb|Locomotive circling log pond in Wilson City, 1905]]
{{commons category|Rail transport in the Bahamas}}
There are no currently functioning railways in the Bahamas. However, there have been a few in the past including in Inagua, Abaco, and Grand Bahama used for the salt and logging industries. 

At Wilson City, Abaco, a mill plant and adjacent town was developed by the Bahamas Timber Company at a cost of around $1 million, including building 12 miles of railway for logging.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/xl41rz/accounts_the_railway_and_mills_of_wilson_city_and/|title=Accounts the railway and mills of Wilson city|accessdate=29 March 2023}}</ref> They operated three locomotives: a Vulcan 2-6-0, a Vulcan 0-4-4 tank, and a shay locomotive built at Lima Locomotive Works in Ohio. Along with the three locomotives, the company invested in almost 60 logging cars to carry the logs from the Forrest. Each train consisted of about 20 log cars. After Wilson City shut down at the end of [[World War I]], Abaco was extensively logged by the Bahamas Cuban company until 1944, when they moved to [[Pineridge (Bahamas Parliament constituency)|Pineridge]], Grand Bahama.

There were 5 camps on Abaco operated by the Bahamas Cuban Company. Norman’s Castle, Millville, Cornwall 1 and 2, and Cross Harbour. They used 4 narrow gauge locomotives produced by the Climax locomotive works. At the last 4 camps, causeways were built so that the rail lines could reach the shore, over the vast expanses of swamp and mangroves. After the sinking of the Norwegian tanker O.A. Knudsen, the survivors were transported to the Cross harbour camp via locomotive so that they could receive medical attention. One sailor, Olaus Johansen, died and was buried at the camp. Once the operation moved and the site was abandoned, his grave was forgotten and was lost for many years.

In Inagua, the Morton salt company used small Brookville diesel locomotives to pull trains of salt around the area. The locomotives were phased out eventually, but the tracks remained for a few more years before being removed due to contamination issued with the salt.

There have been a handful of smaller railways that operated without locomotives, built for the purpose of transporting salt, sisal, and agricultural produce. These existed in Abaco, Exuma, Inagua (Inagua tramways, 1860s), and New Providence. In Abaco there were two short railways built, one at Cedar harbour and one at a plantation near a large blue hole on Little Abaco. 

One of these were in Cat Island; the remnants of a short section of (now underwater) track can still be seen from the shore. The railroad was built in the 19th century to carry produce from [[Old Bight]] to a port where crops would be shipped to Europe and the US, and was closed when the US stopped foreign exports and plantations were no longer in use. The tracks were subsequently sent to the UK to be repurposed into scrap metal for weapons during [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bahamasgeotourism.com/entries/abandoned-railroad-tracks/551b2614-7e37-4999-8ca5-1de06433b116|title=Abandoned Railroad Tracks|website=The Islands of the Bahamas|accessdate=28 March 2023}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Transport in the Bahamas}}
*[https://www.bahamas.com/transportation Transportation in the Bahamas]
*[http://roadtraffic.gov.bs/ Road Traffic Department of the Bahamas]

{{Bahamas topics|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Americas topic|Transport in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport In The Bahamas}}
[[Category:Transport in the Bahamas| ]]