The route bus service

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo and his colleagues have launched another attack on the route bus service (AD Calls For Brakes On Bus Monopoly, November 6).

AD has never had the decency to meet the operators and discuss the problems that we have in providing the service, but they take the easiest route, that of criticism, without offering any sustainable solutions.

Mr Vassallo's statement that buses are unsafe and polluting makes no sense, because buses carry 30 million passengers a year and they cater for school trips and other private work. So buses are one of the biggest contributors to the environment on the island.

In a 300-square-kilometre island we perform 4,300 trips per day. Compared to other countries, this is more than enough. In fact the Halcrow report commissioned by the ADT proposed to shut down 700 trips per day. But the association, because of its 30 years of experience in running such a service and because public transport has a social aspect to it, did not agree.

As regards the suggestion that old buses should be in a museum, as in other countries, this is a good idea but unfortunately the ADT had disposed of these old buses. This is a shame.

The only alternative to traffic congestion on the island is public transport, but there has to be a change in the mentality of the politicians. Investment in the infrastructure has to take place right away, projecting new networks, building modern bus termini and introducing bus lanes and bus corridors as a priority. Bus drivers are participating in an EU programme on customer care.

The government made a good decision about 30 years ago to form one company to provide a route bus network, because from my experience I can guarantee Dr Vassallo that if you eliminate the Public Transport Association and go for tendering all the unprofitable routes will end up either without a service or with commuters having to fork out a fare similar to a taxi service or with a schedule that entails waiting for hours for the next bus.

The Prime Minister's decision to shut down sea transport was a good one too. It would not be a reliable service because of the weather and one has to consider also that if fewer consumers were to use public transport the taxpayers would have to fork out a bigger subsidy, and this makes no sense.

I wish to make Dr Vassallo aware of the fact that in these past few years we have seen an increase in patronage.

Regarding traffic jams, this is the result of wrong policies by governments which view all the new cars coming into the island as economic progress and did not foresee problems such as the need to build new roads and parking areas, and the effects on health and the environment.