Disgraceful public transport service

The bus stop at Chef's Choice on the Marsascala bypass, where the roadworks are taking place, is situated 50 metres away from the supermarket in a newly constructed lay-by. Although no bus stop sign has been erected - why not? - this is where the bus stops when you get on or off.

I left the store in good time to catch the 1.30 p.m. Number 20 bus today.

I stood partly on the road with my arm extended, well before the bus got to me.

The driver drove straight past me, looking straight ahead, pretending he had not seen me.

I was wearing a bright yellow sports shirt and shorts. It was quite clear he had no intention of stopping since I shouted at him as the bus passed and the bus door was open.

I am a pensioner, and had just done my weekly shopping, so I had a heavy load. The next bus was not due for an hour. I have a receipt from Chef's Choice date-stamped to prove this was the driver of the bus No. 20 which arrived at 1.10 p.m., the correct time. He was not late and therefore not in a hurry, but that would have been no excuse.

I sent a complaint to the transport authority some months ago about a No. 40 driver on a journey from Attard, when he drove straight past a woman with her arm fully extended at the square at Balzan. I never got a response to let me know what action had been taken. This time, if they fail to give me evidence of proper disciplinary action against this driver, I will take the matter up with my MP. This callous disregard for the public is becoming a disgrace.

Drivers pay scant attention to schedules. It is understandable that they are sometimes held up in traffic, but I have missed a bus by a minute, which arrived for instance at Cominex, Attard, as much as 10 minutes early and often five minutes early. Because of this travellers have to arrive at a bus stop 10 minutes before the bus is due, to be (almost) certain they will catch it.

This disgraceful service needs to be shaken up and replacements made to lethargic managers, who seem incapable of disciplining their drivers, who think nothing of smoking while driving, or talking on their mobile.