COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER Nicos Nicolaides yesterday pushed back implementation of the controversial “2+ lane” transport measure for next week, citing high congestion as the reason for the extra delay.
The measure was due to be introduced on June 29 for a fixed period, but the ministry decided to delay the pilot project by ten days to give the traffic flows a chance to quieten down over the summer months
According to the announcement, single-person vehicles would be banned from the left lane on the main thoroughfares coming into the capital from July 9, this Thursday.
However, Nicolaides yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the starting date of the new project would be pushed back a few more days until congestion reaches 70 per cent of its normal levels.
“We are monitoring movement on the roads. Once congestion falls to 70 per cent, then we will implement ‘2+’,” said the minister.
Perhaps a sign of the financial times, it appears the number of people expected to leave Nicosia for their summer holidays has not materialised yet.
“Right now, congestion levels have not fallen yet. They are still very high. The measure is more likely to start next week, sometime Monday to Wednesday, so as not to create big problems,” he said.
Asked whether the unpopular measure would be scrapped completely, Nicolaides was adamant that it would be introduced once the conditions on the ground were ready for it.
“We will implement it. Of course, we expect problems, in a sense it’s a controlled discomfort to see how the problems can be solved.”
The minister elaborated on the “magic number” of 70 per cent: “Seventy per cent of motorists are alone when driving in their cars. If traffic is reduced by 70 per cent then proportionally, 70 per cent of 70 per cent means one-person vehicles will count for 49 per cent, half the original number.”
With almost half of normal traffic reserved for the one lane, this frees up space for the 2+ lane without creating massive problems and delays, while giving the ministry the chance to examine the pros and cons of the experiment. At the same time, bus routes will double along the chosen avenues (Limassol and Makarios) leading in and out the city during the trial period.
“The target is not to change people’s mentality in a month, or five weeks, but to test it and see how we can solve the problems,” said Nicolaides, predicting that a change of mentality will come with the complete overhaul of the public transport system, referring specifically to the planned changes to the bus network.
The “2+ Lane” aims to ease up traffic on the left lane of a dual carriageway, applying in both directions, by reserving that lane for buses, taxis, emergency service vehicles, cars driven by the disabled, motorcycles and most importantly, private vehicles carrying two or more people, hence the “2+”. All vehicles that do not fall into these categories have to use the right lane on roads where 2+ applies when driving from Monday to Friday, between 7am and 7pm. Fines for violations reach €23. The project, when finally implemented, will apply until August 16.
The ministry hopes the project will eventually encourage greater use of public transport and car pooling.
