THE INTRODUCTION of a tram system to Nicosia is on the table again, much to the displeasure of bus and taxi drivers across the capital.
Bus drivers have in fact threatened that if such an idea is even considered, they will go on an indefinite strike in September.
But the Mayor of Strovolos, Savvas Eliofotou, who is against the idea of a tram system for the time being, said this was an idea that always came up during discussions over the island’s appalling public transport system.
“Every time a transport problem crops up, the idea to introduce the tram appears,” Eliofotou told the Cyprus Mail.
“But there are so many simpler things that can be done before something like the tram is imported. Such as upgrading the existing transportation system and creating a system for school pupils. Have you noticed that when schools are closed, the transport situation suddenly improves?”
He pointed out that a number of studies had already been carried out to see how viable a tram system would be in Cyprus; they all showed that for the time being, the idea was not to the island’s best interests.
“I am not against the tram; this can be done in the future. But first we must sort out our existing buses and our roads,” said Eliofotou, adding: “Even if they do decide to create trams, it will take up to eight years.”
Creating an independent transport body, much like the Water Board, would be a very positive step in the direction of improving transport problems in Cyprus, the Strovolos Mayor suggested.
“If the government decides to set up an organisation, which it will fund and create a legal framework for, I believe that only then will all these problems be solved,” he said.
Meanwhile, the head of the Public Works Department, Alecos Michaelides, has said that no final decision has been made. The idea of the tram, he added, was being examined as a possibility to improve public transport and make the island’s towns more public-friendly.
Michaelides said that while a study was being carried out to see whether the tram system would be viable in Cyprus, he agreed the current public transport system should be upgraded.
He pointed out that even if the tram did operate in Cyprus, this would not mean that buses would be out of work.
But bus drivers have warned that they will pull the hand break up in September if procedures begin to introduce trams.
“What is going on is outrageous and it appears that some are aiming at stalling procedures to offer buses the mass transportation of the public,” said Giorgos Kyriacou, the co-ordinator of regional bus companies, adding that this includes upgrading buses, intensifying bus routes, reducing fares and public funding.
He warned that bus drivers intended to take drastic measures if the tram idea goes ahead.
Back in May, Transport Minster Harris Thrassou unveiled a massive £275 million plan to increase public transport usage from two to ten per cent by 2015.
With declining numbers using the island’s only public transport, the bus, the plan envisaged school buses everywhere, crackdowns on illegal parking, increased pedestrian areas, new buses, brand new central bus stations in all towns, bus lanes, better bus stops, a park and ride system, and electronic ticketing machines.
Thrassou said that in 1980 buses carried 13 million passengers but by 2004 this had fallen to only 3.5 million, despite an influx of foreigners who generally use public transport. In fact, the number fell below 3 million in 2000 but has since climbed slightly.
During the same period, the number of private cars in Cyprus has risen from 200,000 to 520,000, making the car the preferred mode of transport for 85 per cent of people living on the island.
Only 12 per cent of respondents consider themselves pedestrians compared to only two per cent who say they use public transport. Only bicycles are less popular, with one per cent saying they cycle as a mode of transport.
According to a report compiled by the Ministry, when people were asked why they didn’t use the buses, they cited low quality service and insufficient timetable. The buses were also perceived as old and dingy.
