On the dot

Not far from the bus stop near the Msida playground the road has subsided again. When this happened on the previous two or three occasions, repairs (?) only started when sea water found its way onto the thoroughfare. Judging by the depth of the drop - all cars are plunging into it - it is now about time to see some workmen on the scene.

Panned

Several public and private buildings have notices affixed to the effect that CCTV cameras have been installed for the protection of the place itself and also for the peace of mind of customers. Yet, this premise falls flat on its face when, after a crime happens on site, it is discovered that there are some angles the cameras do not cover. People who know about this could make it work to their advantage.

Alternating

When the scholastic year begins, residents of areas where students are old enough to own their own cars develop a chronic parking headache. Surely, these are areas where some places must be reserved for residents? Working hours and school hours do not cleave perfectly such that cars of students replaces those of workers in the morning, with the opposite happening in the afternoon. The problem is compounded because some people do not work and some teachers prefer to park in residential areas.

Direct

The direct route bus to tertiary education establishments does not cover all the routes taken by ordinary public transport. Therefore, students sometimes prefer to catch two buses to their destination rather than face a 15-minute walk to the nearest fare stage from where the express buses run. One hopes that local councils would remedy this shortcoming before the end of the first school term.

Hazardous

Every so often we hear of accidents at building sites and a hue and cry about safety measures at work is launched. However, one can still view people without basic safety gear, such as hard hats and heavy duty shoes, working on roadway projects and perched on precarious scaffolding. Workers on refuse collection trucks still hold on to their vehicle with one hand stretching out the other for bags handed over by colleagues when the truck is in motion.

Breather

The Msida local wardens on the Victor Denaro Street drill must be conscientious enough to the extreme that they even work on Sunday mornings. Surely the council is aware of the acute parking problem that exists there and gives the residents a break at a time when there is no traffic congestion or obstruction at all. These same wardens are conspicuous by their absence during the opening and closing times of the state school in the area, when confusion reigns supreme.

Nightly

Many tourists brave the sun and ride on the top floor of the sightseeing tour buses that ply the streets. If this service were extended into the night, no doubt even locals would benefit, for some might even be tempted to use the service to get home when route buses would have stopped. Malta by night is such a wonderful place.

Flowing

There are traffic restitutions for parents wishing to pick up their children from state schools. It is usually the case that the whole street in which the main entrance to a school is situated, where applicable, is closed off to private vehicles. However, no such restrictions are imposed for Church or private schools and cars can, on occasion, drive up right to the gates of a school. This creates traffic bottlenecks because, of course, the cars that arrive last must then be the first to depart, if the traffic is to clear.

Heavyweight

Why is it that some people insist that, no matter what, the project proposed by the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation will be implemented? The reason they give is that behind it is a heavyweight who can wield influence even from across the waves.

Hot-spot

The section of High Street, Ħamrun, where it branches off to Marsa or continues towards the centre of the town, is an accident waiting to happen. Cars cross the oncoming lines of traffic without bothering to await a gap, or at least a signal from a driver to this effect. To make matters worse, people cross the road from all directions and some of these, obviously, do not even realise that they are placing pushchairs right in the path of oncoming traffic.

Blinded

People who need to go to government departments often notice that the lights of toilets are kept on, even when they are not being used. This is a waste. Why not install sensors that only switch on lights when the room is occupied? In addition, one notes that several offices that have direct sunlight keep the shutters closed and the electricity lights are then obviously necessary. Have these people never heard of blinds?

Strays

This column has long been reporting the fact that, some times, dogs are seen roaming about in the Ta' Qali area in packs. Some of them must have been pets at one time because they still sport collars. This is unfair on the owners of the workshops, on the visitors and on the dogs themselves because they have to scrounge for food and make a nuisances of themselves. Is there any animal welfare organisation willing to take them in?

Disturbed

The belvedere at the upper part of La Valette Street, Vittoriosa is a haven of tranquillity where the aged can enjoy the view and the younger set play away from vehicular traffic hazards. For some reason, however, Mepa has now granted a permit for the construction of a kiosk, thus rendering the area yet another commercial venue.