A landmark project begun in June 2024, The Original Roseau City Bus Stop Map will help make Dominica’s buses more accessible for locals and visitors alike. Born to Dominican parents and raised in New York City , Fifty-One Books founder Rashida Serrant-Davis recalled the maps for the city’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus and train systems. She conceptualized and designed the Roseau City map with the MTA Transit maps in mind. The team is rounded out by Project Assistant Kytel Daniel and Graphic Designer Ayomidimeji. The map will also be printed in her recently published book, Greater Than a Tourist Dominica: 50 Travel Tips from a Local. This project serves persons visiting Dominica as well as people who live here. Those who travel by bus regularly will find it particularly helpful. The map consists of the latest bus stop locations, destinations served, landmarks, bank and credit union ATMs and free Wi-Fi hotspot locations across the City of Roseau. Mrs. Davis gives God all the glory for His inspiration in this groundbreaking endeavor.
So far more than 15 Dominican business owners have gotten on board. The project welcomes local micro and small businesses and hopes to bring medium scale businesses and organizations into the mix. “I’m enjoying the process of meeting business owners and hearing their stories and goals,” said the project’s founder. “We welcome businesses from all sectors to get some new visibility for themselves.”
The Discover Dominica Authority website’s Island Transportation page says “Dominica has a reliable public transportation system consisting of primarily private minibus operators. Bus stops can be found at designated points throughout the city depending on your destination.” That said, the project also appeals to bus drivers or Bus Driver Associations (BDAs). “The buses are a vital part of the nation’s economy. The nation is well mapped out with bus service for the most part. It’s time for the bus drivers to take in front – some tourists and diaspora like seeing Dominica by bus,” Mrs. Davis remarked.
“You notice the backpackers coming and they don’t want to take a taxi, they just want to explore,” remarked Vanessa Bruno on a recent discussion with Mrs. Davis. Rashida appeared on Kairi FM’s Kairi Connections radio show. “…that is a fun way of getting to know a place…” Vanessa continued.
“We trust that the project will be put to great use [by the people of the nation when it is] done,” said Project Assistant Kytel Daniel.
Annual publication gives the map flexibility to update and accommodate new partners, and a digital version of the map will be available at dominicabybus.com. Mrs. Davis called upon her skills as a tech enthusiast and Computer Science educator to build the webpage herself. This is just one of a collection of skills she will advise small business owners to learn in her upcoming September 2024 Global Empowerment Services Webinar: 5 Tech Skills You Lack that Could Revolutionize Your Business. With a plan of 5000 maps being printed locally, the project expects to be ready to distribute with its web version fully launched in time for the 2024 Independence Season.
Presently on sale at Amazon.com, copies of Greater Than a Tourist Dominica will be available for purchase at Zeb Kweyol and other book and tourist vendors nationwide shortly after the start of the new school year. Visit DominicaByBus on YouTube and go to dominicabybus.com for more information and to subscribe for updates. Contact Rashida Serrant-Davis’ WhatsApp on
868-371-9338 or Kytel Daniel on 767-265-3226 for further information or sponsorship enquiries. For more information about Fifty-One Books, visit fiftyonebooks.com.
