How to build better, more resilient islands in the aftermath of the pandemic. The Cayman Compass newspaper have asked for contributors to share their vision for Cayman’s future, in a series titled ‘Cayman 2.0’, dedicated to the ongoing debate. Here is my contribution on the subject:
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I believe the Cayman Islands need a brand new transport system, bringing together sustainable forms of transport connected by the simplicity and innovation of an app.
Cayman’s population is rapidly growing. Gridlock traffic has become a national issue. A sustainable transport solution is urgently needed. The problem is worsening for residents who commute from the areas of Prospect, and beyond, into the Eastern Districts.
A ferry is a time-efficient and safe way to travel, and has been successfully adopted as a transport solution for many coastal cities. In Grand Cayman, the North Sound is the body of water located at the heart of the island, with several ferry access points around the island. The existing ferry service, with Cayman Ferries, currently connects the destinations of Camana Bay and the remote beaches of Kaibo, at Rum Point, where I am fortunate enough to live. Their new service, which launches in November 2020, intends to connect more destinations around the island.
Imagine a commuter ferry at Newlands Barcadere, that serves commuters from Newlands, Prospect, Bodden Town, and beyond, offering fast access to the Seven Mile Beach corridor. A rush-hour commute from Beach Bay to Camana Bay could become a 15-minute car ride to the Newlands dock, followed by a 15-minute ferry ride to Camana Bay. For a journey that currently takes two hours during peak times by car, that’s a travel time reduction of 75%!
Key features of the ferry would need to include a guaranteed seat on board, so that there are never more people on board than the number of available seats in the app. So we’ll always have plenty of opportunity to relax or catch up on work while we travel. The app must be simple and easy-to-use. For example, just pay for the digital ticket, turn up at the dock, and … voila.. sail off into the sunset! A ferry journey is safe and reliable, and lots of fresh air is helpful during a time when people are sceptical and about the hygiene on public transport. A secure and sturdy catamaran that is designed to glide over large waves, will ensure a smooth ride, so passengers can arrive calm and collected. And on time. Now we can skip the traffic, and reach our destinations much faster than we would by car.
I’d like to see the app then have further forms of transport connected. Upon arrival at any dock, a passenger can quickly pull up and reserve a seat on an electric public bus, hire an e-bike or e-scooter, or hail an uber-style Cayman Cab. all of which can be tracked to see where the nearest available options are. An 100% electric fleet will ensure we protect our environment from emission pollution.
After the successful roll out across Grand Cayman, the project can then move into the Sister islands, and a larger vehicle-carrying ferry can connect our three islands.
My vision is that our 60K+ population of Cayman will join together on the ride towards a sustainable future. A transport app, that is committed to changing the way the island moves, is simple-to-use technology that can connect us all. And through this connectivity, we can all be committed to the way the island moves forward.
If we start now, with the ferry as our centralized transport hub, our commitment will ensure that by 2030, the Cayman Islands will have the most sustainable way to travel in the Caribbean.
#Jointheride
Claire, we think you should go into politic, help Cayman in its needs some straight thinking and good ideas.