Thursday, 24th July 2008

An efficient public transport system

Ben Azzopardi, Queensland, Australia

I am very annoyed to have read an e-mail here in Australia being floated by a sector of Maltese people regarding the "rudeness and arrogance" of the Maltese public transport system.

Since Malta is my birth place I would like to make my contribution in an attempt to help rectify the problem by referring to the very good Australian public transport system.

Each of the Australian states' public transport system is controlled by an authority that reports to the Minister of Transport. All private- and government-owned public transport operators must have a licence and pay an annual fee to fund the authority. The authority has a code of practice that covers everything from operator uniform, the condition of vehicles (including hygiene), transport charges and bus routes to ensure that all people get the same transport service throughout.

The authority has inspectors that can temporarily suspend licences "on the spot" for breach of the transport code. Operators who consistently breach the code lose their licence indefinitely.

Sure, the cost of the authority is passed on to the public but the public would be much better off cost-wise and otherwise if the Maltese transport system were to be properly controlled and regulated.

Most importantly, it would lift the image of the Maltese tourist industry because there is nothing worse then a tourist being hassled and ripped off by a tourist operator minutes after entering a country, as happened to me when I visited Malta in 1978. Sadly, it seems very little, if anything, has changed since then.

I suggest that the Maltese people tell their politicians that if they do not do something about what seems to be a major problem in the Maltese public transport system, then they will not vote for them next election.

Comments

DVella (on 25/7/08)

Mario, The state of our public transport system has actually deteriorated over the last thirty years rather than improved...with regular increases in ticket prices to add insult to injury! Don't try to tell us what we need . . . I know that telling people how they should do things is an ingrained part of the inbred american culture but there's no excuse for it! There have been not one, but several repeated attempts to give the bus drivers an education, only recently they were sent on a training course in customer service and relations . . . did it work?? Yeah right . . . it sure showed during their illegal 'industrial action'!! As for a high school diploma . . . you MUST be joking . . . most of these primates didn't ever make it past the third grade and several of them are illiterate ! Sorry mate but you just don't understand, the system is rotten to the core and has to be dismantled and re-built, together with its operators!!

Denis Catania (on 25/7/08)

@Mario Cini Giant leaps has been made in Malta, and for a small country we are ahead of most countries. But our buses still lacks change. But a giant leap is not too far for the Transit system.We all love Malta, and theres nothing wrong for us to joke about it. As long that it's us and not strangers.Ben also loves Malta or else he wouldn't be reading the Times of Malta.Is that right Ben?
@ Charles DeMicoli Yes those buses are unique, but please don't keep them all.
@Julie Grech They use less gas in Malta due to shorter trips.So it should be less expensive to ride.But you are right it is pretty cheap.
@Lisa Schembri I agree they are funny and it actually fun to ride. But I don't live there. I visit often, not often as I wish.
@ All Future visitors to Malta our Transit system has THE BEST SCENERY IN THE WORLD.
@Ben Azzopardi 30 years is a long time. Plan a trip to Malta soon, you are missing out.

Viva Malta ul Maltin.

Denis Catania (on 25/7/08)

Mr Azzopardi, Well you have been misinformed. For your information there has been a lot of changes since 1978 in the Transit system in Malta.
1. There are 2 or 3 new buses.
2. The 20 year old buses are 50 years old.
3. Drivers now curse in about 9 different languages.
4. The 10 year old taxis are 40 years old.
5. You no longer need to wave at the buses, now they do the waving. They wave good bye
as they drive by.
6. !978 buses ran on petrol,now they run them on heating oil.
7. 1978 they used hand brakes to stop the bus. Now the passengers pray for the bus to stop.
8. 1978 the bus driver swept the bus every time he got to Valletta, now he sweeps it every
month.
9. 1978 the buses were worth nothing. Now with the high cost of metal, the buses are worth
something.
10.The drivers use to eat in Valletta, now they eat on the way to Valletta while driving.
@MarioCini Yes giant leaps, not in Transit

Mario Cini (on 24/7/08)

I have no doubt that you all share the same common goal. That is to elevate Malta’s image. I think Ben needs to take a trip to Malta and not comment from recollections he had from 30 years ago. I have been living in the US for over 30 years and I can say I have visited Malta well over a dozen times and each time I come I see an improvement. The last five years I say were more than giant leap. With that said, I believe the only thing the bus drivers need is a good education. Some (if not most) of these drivers don’t even have a high school diploma. Give them a class in “customer satisfaction” and you will see an improvement every time you ride the buss. As far as the cleanness on the busses, now let’s put the blame where it belongs. I’m sure the bus driver did not dirty the bus all by himself!

Lisa Schembri (on 24/7/08)

I agree with Julie Grech.

But I've also realised that the bus drivers operating the new buses are much less angry than the ones driving those rickity old ones.

Even though are bus service is dreadfull I would only change TWO things! :

Bus drivers to stop over loading the bus with passengers
and
Buses to be on time

Otherwise I like our bus service .Its...Quaint? Lol ....And It makes me laugh

Julie Grech (on 24/7/08)

Ben, believe me compared to the 47 euro cents (if I recall correctly) that is paid for a regular bus trip in Malta, the prices here in Australia are extremely daunting. For a 10 minute bus ride here I pay $4. So a two way trip is $8, or 5 euros (aprox. Lm2.25).

From B'Buga to Valletta its at least a 20 minute ride, depending on the drivers mood, so a two way trip would cost 20 euros!! That's not to mention the more probable scenario that one would not stop at Valletta but catch yet another bus to somewhere else. Somehow I find it hard to swallow that an average Maltese citezen would happily fork out 20 euros, if not more, to go to and from work everyday, whatever the quality of service being provided. Things in Malta have changed since 1978, but unfortunately the average pay cheque isn't one one of them.

Having said all this, nothing excuses some bus drivers rudeness and arrogance, unfortunately, this too hasn't changed.

Charles DeMicoli (on 24/7/08)

OK, Ben. I'm sure the readers of this paper, the Maltese in general and our elected officials know how public transportation is run in other places, whether it is Australia, NYC, Toronto, Detroit, Tokyo or Timbuktu. What's needed in Malta is a firm hand and a plan. We've seen the beginning of the process. At the same time, our old buses should not be junked or laid aside because they themselves have that certain Maltese uniqueness and are an attraction, tourist or not.

Previous article • Rocks, life rafts and safety at sea
Next article • Illegal employment should be stopped

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Wednesday, December 3, 2008. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

An efficient public transport system

Comments

Poll

Fun Stuff

	16°C
Clear Feels like: 16.9°C UV Index: 3