Unacceptable behaviour at Ċirkewwa bus terminus

I do not know what terms exist for the bus service at Ċirkewwa. However, I feel quite sure that drivers should wait until passengers disembark from the Gozo ferries before they leave the terminus.

This is not what happened on November 3. The ferry Malita left Mġarr at 12.20 p.m. and arrived at Ċirkewwa at 12.40 p.m.

By 12.45 p.m. most of the passengers were making their way to the only two buses at the terminus - Bus 645 and Bus 45.

While some of the passengers were approaching the buses, the driver of Bus 645 decided to start the engine and take off at full speed, without a single passenger on board. Consequently, those who wanted to catch this bus to go directly to Sliema could not do so.

The alternative was to take the only bus available, Bus 45, go to Valletta and take another bus to Sliema - a waste of time and money. An English gentleman sitting with his wife behind me vented his anger with me for all this inconvenience. I dare not repeat here what he said about such drivers, the public transport service and the Maltese in general, not realising that I was Maltese myself.

So the journey started towards Valletta and as we approached Xemxija hill our driver could not resist lighting a cigarette and proceeded to puff away.

And then we talk about public transport reform!