2 comments so far.Public transport to be given priority in morning rush hour
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This morning, the Prime Minister hosted the first meeting of the task force on public transport reform. This task force is composed of Austin Gatt, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications; Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs; Chris Said, Parliamentary Secretary for Consumers, Fair Competition, Local Councils and Public Consultation, the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta. Senior Police, Transport Malta and Arriva participated in the meeting this morning.
During this meeting it was decided that public transport should be given priority over other traffic in the rush hour, between 6.30am and 9.00 am. This decision the Government said is “consonant with Government policy to protect the environment by promoting change in the manner of transport that people use.” The Police, together with Malta Transport and the Armed Forces, were instructed to, after consultation with Arriva prepare an action plan within a week on as to how this decision can be enforced and monitored. This action plan will also include proposals and analysis of the possibilities of bus priority lanes and other measures.
The task force agreed with the analysis of the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication that Arriva should strengthen the route management structure. Arriva was therefore asked to report on measures that it will take in this regard as well as other measures to reduce the time spent during the journey for passengers to obtain tickets.
The task force will will meet again next week.
I don’t suppose rush hour applies to Gozo, but I think both the police and Traffic wardens would help make the traffic flow if they inforce the law of bad and illegal parking which slow these buses. As for the ticket system I cannot understand why Arriva did not come up with the touch type card like the oyster used in London. These can be bought from ordinary shops and topped up from the same shops, then you just board the bus and touch it with the automatic receiver on the bus. That way you pay per journey or even like London Transport after 0930 it becomes a one day ticket. Honestly in most countries I have been the drivers do not touch money thus make the service faster. The pensioners will have their own card at reduced fare
During the morning in Gozo I have noticed MANY buses running with no passengers these non paying routes should be reduced also as the Tony Stivala suggested the ticket system should be replaced leaving the driver to concentrate on his main job DRIVING