THE FIGURE for public transport users has dropped threefold in the last 20 years with less than five per cent of commuters using public transport in Nicosia compared to 50 per cent in major European cities.
Chairman of the Nicosia Bus Company Stefos Kaloyiros yesterday called on the government to implement a long overdue transport policy immediately and put a stop to endemic illegal parking on the roads and pavements, or else watch traffic chaos grow on the streets.
In 1981, Nicosia buses were transporting 12 million passengers. This number has now dropped to four million. Kaloyiros blames this on the ease with which motorists can purchase cars and then park them wherever they wish, making private transport a much more attractive option. Without the political will to assist public transport, this picture is unlikely to change and will only get worse.
“There are many problems created by the lack of a transport policy. Illegally parked cars obstruct roads, delaying traffic and creating huge congestion. This is a very big problem. Journeys that should take no more than 25 minutes can take up to one hour and 10 minutes,” said Kaloyiros.
A study on Nicosia traffic has been gathering dust on the shelves of the Communications Ministry since 2002. “This study needs to be implemented immediately if we are to have any chance of improving our service. We need government assistance to renew the fleet and implement a traffic management policy so we can provide a better, faster service. Maybe this way people would even consider leaving their cars at home,” he said.
Kaloyiros charged that successive governments had failed to show political will to implement a proper transport policy. Although the bus company is a private organisation, the government exercises control over its rates, keeping a cap on charges and providing free service to refugees and pensioners, as well as covering its losses at the end of the year. But this subsidy means the company cannot receive loans from commercial banks and must depend entirely on the good will of the government loans committee.
“We have applied for a £2 million loan from the committee to renew our fleet and are still waiting for an answer. We need modern infrastructure to build better bus stops, and proper facilities at Solomou Square (the central bus station) to protect people from the rain etc.,” said Kaloyiros.
The bus chief was resigned to confess that no government was prepared to help to improve public transport, catering solely to the needs of the private motorists.
“We are beginning to think that vested interests are involved in their refusal to do anything about public transport. They paid £5 million for the Strovolos roundabout and are going to pay £75m for the flyover in Limassol. This all helps private motorists but what about the buses and the need for new stops and stations? It seems that no minister knew Cyprus growing up on the bus or bicycle.”
“In the UK, the government provides grants to renew bus fleets. Here we are still waiting for a loan. In big European towns, trams play their part. Here the bus could do the same if it was given its own lane. Traffic congestion is very bad in Nicosia. In London, Zurich or Paris, can you imagine what would happen if motorists were allowed to park right outside shops on the pavements? No one would use public transport and congestion would be worse,” he added.
Kaloyiros called on the Communications Minister to adopt the traffic study sitting on the shelves and Justice Minister to enforce the law on parking by outsourcing to private companies with powers to clamp cars or tow them away.
“If the government were to implement these proposals and policies on transport management, then we could start becoming a profit-making company and reduce traffic congestion, stress and road accidents. But if all the roads remain like that outside the House of Representatives, then nothing can happen. It’s a tragic situation.”
