Workers complain of ‘illogical’ tariff system at Park & Ride
Workers who use the Blata l-Bajda park-and-ride facility only as a parking area because they work in the vicinity have complained about the “illogical” tariff system being put in place.
One worker, who works at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, situated up the road from the park-and-ride site, said those who parked their car and got the transport to Valletta could buy a seven-day block ticket for €10. However, those who parked their car there and walked to their place of work had to fork out €3.75 a day.
Moreover, he complained, people who parked their car near the park-and-ride facility could utilise the Arriva transport to Valletta for just 50c as they were considered as additional accompanying passengers.
The worker said that when he asked about this, Arriva, which will operate the park-and-ride service, said the tariffs had been established by Transport Malta.
Asked for an explanation, Transport Malta said the park-and-ride facility was not intended “primarily” as a car park but to encourage motorists to use public transport, “at least for part of their trip”, providing access to Valletta and Floriana.
A spokesman said the capacity of the park-and-ride facility compensated for parking lost in Valletta due to various restrictions and pedestrianisation. “The pricing structure is intended to serve just this purpose and is not intended to encourage parking for surrounding offices which, in any case, are best served by public transport connections. It should be clarified that the reduced ‘additional passenger’ transport tickets are only available for passengers of cars parking within the facilities.”
Coop Services, which operated the red minivans to and from Valletta since the facility opened in November 2006, said it had carried more than five million passengers to and from the capital city. The last minivan operated the service at 12.30 p.m. yesterday as the facility is closed all day today until it is officially passed on to Arriva tomorrow.
Coop Services is now offering a similar service, the Home To Work Connect, a service that will take workers from their home to Valletta and back. More details on www.maltacoop.com.
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S. Camilleri
Dec 15th 2011, 13:27
Tajjeb ..."Transport Malta said the park-and-ride facility was not intended “primarily” as a car park but to encourage motorists to use public transport, “at least for part of their trip”, providing access to Valletta and Floriana" ....
So those who use PRIVATE transport to the park and ride and public transport to Valletta are more privileged than those who use PRIVATE transport to the park and ride and WALK the rest of the way.
Dik logika!!
john zerafa
Jul 3rd 2011, 13:19
have you all forgotten this goverment's slogan? workers just sut up and pay up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Victor Vella
Jul 3rd 2011, 00:17
Look if you don't want to pay for parking take the bus or now that there is competition take the mina bus to valetta, triduha hobbla u tradda intom, darba kien hemm ghajta fid dezert ta jew bxejn jew xejn.If you don't want to pay the Euro3.50 buy a clock ticket, if they sell more tickets then there is parking space then they should refund you with the money plus any other expences you make, but I bet now the Floriana car park would be cheaper.Do you remeber when you critisised Gr e fENECH aDAMI WHEN HE SAID LET THE PRICES RISE BECAUSE IN TIME THE COMPETITION WOULD LOWER THESE AND IT DID.pLEASE FORGET THE MENTALITY THAT THE GOVERMENT SHOULD PAY FOR EVERYTHING, THEY PAY WITH OUR MONEY NOT JUST YOURS.
S. Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2011, 13:34
Xi stupidita ta' argument. Issa naqbad nghaleqlek kullimkien u biex ticcaqlaq tibda thallas.... Ghax dejjem tista tuza taxi jew timxi xi mil! Dik Alternattiva!! Mela 'Park and Ride' ghal min jahdem il-Belt Ok imma 'Park and Walk' ghal min jahdem Blata l-Bajda terdghalek paga to' jumejn!
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2011, 23:32
X'tistenna minn min ħobżu maħbuż u żejtu fil-kus u qed idawwarha tajjeb?
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 2nd 2011, 22:30
Also note that since notwithstanding the court judgment on 31/01/2007 and the judgment of the Court of Appeal on 19/05/2009 the GONEZI Government has continued to apply the reserved parking schemes, Mr Joseph Borg has again filed a case against the Prime Minister etc. on 16/11/2009
Details are,
Cit 1118/09 RCP Borg Joseph et vs Onorevoli Prim Ministru et
Qorti Ċivili, Prim Awla - Malta Ġudikatura Raymond C. Pace Ismijiet Borg Joseph Et Vs Onorevoli Prim Ministru Et
Il-Konvenuti kollha huma:
Awtorita' Dwar It-Trasport Ta' Malta, Ministru Ghall-Infrastruttura, Trasport U Komunikazzjoni, Onorevoli Prim Ministru
THIS IS THE TYPE OF ARROGANT GOVERNMENT THAT MALTA HAS.
matthew tanti
Jul 2nd 2011, 20:00
it is time that people who work in valletta stop being taken for a ride and treated as second or worse class citizens. we are amongst the principal users of the city, yet all that is done is to the benefit of the residents, who are supposed to be an ever decreasing amount, or tourists or shoppers. parking tariffs have been raised to more than 2 euros per day, and walking into valletta with a briefcase/laptop, umbrella or in the heat, is not very convenient. the 133 service is not sufficiently frequent to cater for our needs. A VAlletta Workers Group, with facebook page and all, needs to be set up to put pressure and lobby the authorities to provide better ways to access the central and lower parts of valletta.
Mr joe bouvett
Jul 2nd 2011, 19:37
IT is about time to boycot all these fantasy visions since by time we will end up paying to park a car in our own garage.
Licencing,vrts and insurance are allready sky high. It is true that we are becoming like EU citizens but only are regards taxes ,bill etc.
n grech
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:46
I would suggest that if at all possible, we should travel by bus. Especially into Valletta unless we are carrying loads or need to do some other errand elsewhere.
When the park and ride was free, it was quite ridiculous that by 8.30am all the parking spaces would be taken by people who would occupy they space for most of the day. The intention was surely that the spaces would be vacated after a few hours making them available to others.
For my part I intend to use the new Arriva public transport when i need to enter Valletta saving petrol and the stress that driving and parking on our roads has become.
I'm just hoping that the punctuality and relative comfort live up to expectations.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 2nd 2011, 22:22
Who are you to tell the peopel how long they remain parked?
Was it not the PN government who ILLEGALLY and UNCONSTITUTIONALLY reserved parts of Valletta for Valletta residents and also introduced payment by non-residents, again ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
This has already been decided in the case
Maria Victoria u Joseph konjugi Borg
vs
Sindku u Segretarju Ezekuttiv in rapprezentanza tal-Kunsill Lokali Pieta`
Citazzjoni Numru. 949/2004
QORTI CIVILI PRIM' AWLA
ONOR. IMHALLEF LINO FARRUGIA SACCO
Seduta tal-31 ta' Jannar, 2007
Tiddikjara li l-impozizzjoni ta’ zona riservata ghar-residenti hija ‘ultra vires’ is-setghat moghtija lill-Kunsill Lokali li jaghmel ‘bye-laws’ a tenur ta’ l-Att XV tal-1993 dwar il-Kunsilli Lokali fuq dan l-aspett, minbarra li hija mizura preferenzjali;
The last part is what is most relevant "minbarra li hija mizura preferenzjali" because ti goes directly against the provisions of the Constitution because the GONEZI Government and all those who are implementing the reserved parking are VIOLATING the Constitution because they are preferrign the local residents to non-residents. (Article 45(1), 45(3) of the Constitution of Malta)
This has been confirmed at the Appeal stage and has now become a res judicata. A final sentence and binding. This means that the GONEZI Government, the Local Councils, the Wardens, the Wardens companies, the Commissioners for Justice and anyone implementing the reserved parking schemes and condemning drivers to pay are acting ILLEGALLY and UNCONSTITUTIONALLY. THEY ARE BREACHING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THEY ARE ACTING ILLEGALLY. THEY ARE ACTING UNCONSTITUTIONALLY.
Here are the appeal details.
Maria Victoria u Joseph konjugi Borg
v.
Sindku u Segretarju Ezekuttiv in rapprezentanza tal-Kunsill Lokali Pieta` u b’digriet tal-Qorti tat-30 ta’ Marzu 2009, Jessie Fabri giet awtorizzata tidher minflok Santo sive Sunny Attard fil-kwalita` taghha ta’ Sindku in rapprezentanza ta’ l-istess Kunsill Lokali.
Appell Civili Numru. 949/2004/1
QORTI TA' L-APPELL
S.T.O. PRIM IMHALLEF VINCENT DE GAETANO
ONOR. IMHALLEF JOSEPH A. FILLETTI
ONOR. IMHALLEF GEOFFREY VALENZIA
Seduta tad-19 ta' Mejju, 2009
Decide
37. Ghall-motivi premessi, u ghalhekk mhux neccessarjament ghall-istess ragunijiet kollha kif migjuba fis-sentenza appellata, tichad l-appell u tikkonferma dik is-sentenza.....
YOU HAVE IT FROM THE COURTS, BOTH AT FIRST STAGE AND AT THE APPEAL STAGE THAT THE GONEZI GOVERNMENT IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST YOU.
Mark Jones
Jul 3rd 2011, 11:18
It's all very well, Mr Grech, if you have a decent service to Valletta.
From today we have none.
One of suggested routes on Arriva's planner for my wife's journey from Ghaxaq to Sliema is THREE buses via Marsaskala!
Illogical?
A. Borg
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:36
Sorry,imma tkun tahdem il-Belt u Floriana u ma tuzghax it-transport pubbliku ikun haqqhek aghar minn hekk meta l-karrozzi kollha jwassluk hemmhekk!
Mr Patrick Bellia
Jul 2nd 2011, 15:40
I would like to ask this, If I decide to park the car and go by walk i pay 3.75 euro than come someone with the block ticket of 10 euros to park the car and go to valletta, my question is this what will happen in a case when the parking is full up but i have the seven day ticket already paid? Where i can park my car? If i will have the ticket and when I go i dont find a parking space i put it in the middle of the road because I think that if I have already paid for the parking with the 7 day ticket I think that when I go I would find my parking space.
John Doe
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:32
If Malta had a Competition Office with a spine, it would be investigating this abuse of dominant market power immediately ... but just as in the case of the abusive school transport system, I would be a fool to expect any action to be taken by Maltese Authorities.
Perhaps my best bet would be to complain directly to Brussels.
Mr MARIO ZERAFA
Jul 2nd 2011, 15:38
Dear Joe Malta has the EU commissioner for consumer affairs and our country is the most abusive of the comsumer. Can we be worse? Who will act against our govenment or its appointed ettities if even the EU commissioner was one of the same ministers of the present administration? We cannot move forward unless the people of MALTA relise that we are taken for a ride every day, robbed from our pockets, being given miserable pay compared with our EU citizens and yet pay heavier taxations for all our consumables. When and if the fools wake up in an election we might stand a chance of improvement but this is neither a guarantee but it is important to have a change.
Mr Noel Cutajar
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:48
The park and ride was intended for persons going to Valletta and not a private car park for other employees!! I spend ages at 8am to try to find a parking and end up parking near White Bros in order to carch the mini van to Valletta. Yes, they should pay for the mere use of the parking...otherwise use the new system to go to work.
aldo Attard
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:21
The way Arriva has been served with a silver platter makes me ask a 1001 PQ questions.
Who was responsible for forking out all this money for all these street alterations, all these new street furniture?
Park and Ride depots were always intended to be free for the common private cars to ease up the traffic congestions and free up the parking spaces, especially in Valletta.
We have been using this system years before some wise guy thought and implimented the Park and Ride scheme, the difference being only the last strip we would take up a bus.
With a paying Park and ride, we Maltese residents are not serve well.
Are we trying to make things better or is the agenda is different?
Mr Patrick Zammit
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:14
Why is the Government discriminating between employees?
Government readily offers free parking to those who work at Mater Dei and Belt is-Sebh (all reserved for those working at the offices) but ignores those who work at Valletta.
Ms Martina Baldacchino
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:05
exactly!! it's been on our minds too. Why do Government employees within certain localities have free parkings, while other Government employees in Valletta with same scale & salary do not? it's discrimination
Mr Ivan M. Dingli
Jul 2nd 2011, 15:44
Mr. Zammit, I work at MDH and have no parking allocated. I pay just as anybody else does if I park within MDH.
Mr Patrick Zammit
Jul 2nd 2011, 17:59
Mr Dingli
Last March 2009, UHM was in talks with the Government to extend free parking to those on salary scale 13 and under.
http://www.grajjietmalta.com/17 ta' Marzu, 2009 4.html
Mr Ivan M. Dingli
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:28
Mr. Zammit
As I said, I do not have free parking at MDH even though I work there. But you are correct, certain people are more privileged. My point is, do not generalise, that's all.
Albert Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:41
Saw one of the Arriva Buses today. Its electronic destination sign read DangShanStation. Dang Shan Station is in Taiwan (there is also a Dangshan county in China). What is a Taiwan destination doing still on the destination selector. Were these refurbished Taiwan buses converted to right hand drive? The Arriva models seen on the road seem older than the previous King Long Buses! Just wondering.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:20
Albert- if a round-trip fare is one Euro 50 cents, that a real bargain!
Albert Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2011, 15:58
Suppose so! :-)
Mr Pawlu Agius
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:28
Looking forward to see Maltese roads with buses and bicycles only, free from traffic jams or bullies parking their cars the middle of roads. The car is not a necessity as there are many alternatives to it and should be allowed circulation only in emergency/ extremes situations (with fines for those who use this commodity). Those careless about our environment / health should be penalized through higher taxes on fuels and not as is the case now with Malta in the 12th position with lowest fuel prices in Europe (despite every drop of fuel has to be imported - what a waste of money!). But for now, let the Government continue subsidize a lazy society which doesn't want to walk or wait a few minutes for the next bus.
Mr Ivan M. Dingli
Jul 2nd 2011, 15:40
Sur Agius,
Jaqaw meta inti tmur ghax-xoghol (jekk ghadhek tahdem), kull ma jkollok bzonn iggor huwa il-lunch box? Mela issa meta jkolli ix-xoghol ghand in-nies nibda niccargjhom din it-taxxa li inti trid li tigi introdotta ghax il-karrozza hija kumdita' issa ukoll!!
M V Agius
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:15
I would have liked to send my kids to school with the Arriva buses - but the solution I was given: 3 buses each way! that means 6 buses a day - can you imagine the waste of precious time?! and it's such a big hassle going up & down buses with a heavy satchel.
i have started driving them to school myself when i was being ripped off about €900 a year for the mini-bus service.
I was really looking forward to the system but apparently it didn't offer me better options.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:14
I think it is time people relised that the days of free parking in public places are over.
Albert Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:00
Well than reduce the Annual Circulation Fee! Tihu iktar u thalli inqas mhux sewwa!
Am Camilleri
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:31
@Albert Bezzina. But then if cars end up circulating MORE looking for a 'free' space - shouldn't they pay more tax due to more road wear, pollution creation etc . . . ;o)
Mr Carmel Farrugia
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:28
This MEPA employee should go to work by bus and it will cost him much less. Being the employee of an environmental authority he should set the example. He is lucky and is on the main bus line.
Victor Deguara
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:48
Very well said, Carmel! Naqbel mija fil-mija.
Emma Saliba
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:55
Mr. Carmela Farrugia and Mr. Victor Deguara.. will you be using the bus to go to work?? why should this person be "forced" to use the bus? Facli titkellem meta ma tkunx se tafetwa lilek!!
D. Farrugia
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:05
Ah, but Mr Farrugia, do you know that some elite MEPA employees have their own reserved parking spaces? Just try and park in their stead and they will soon show you how to set the example!! Will they be willing to use public transport because they should be setting an example too? I think not. And I think whoever has his/her own parking space (whichever company) won't care less even if people are forced to walk to/from work.
Joseph Faure
Jul 4th 2011, 09:49
Since I had to uncover my behind due to so many comments, but it doesn't matter. Supposedly we live in a democratic country. Mr Farrugia, I have been shedding the example for the past five years now. My situation is the following. My wife works at MEPA as well and we have a ten year old daughter who goes to school at Msida. We live in M'Scala and the school unfortunately does not provide mini-bus service to our locality which means we have to take our child to school every single day.
My wife is on reduced hours and leaves at 14.00hrs and I used to utilise the No.17 bus to go home everyday.
Mr.Farrugia and Mr.Deguara please note the attachment below and try to understand our (those who are not elite) frustration. After MEPA donated the TM (Then ADT) €628,930.81 now we are being treated like trash and will have to fork out €850 (circa) every year plus the bus tickets (in my case) since we are the only ones that seem to be obliged to shed an example.
Thanks to Emma Saliba and D. Farrugia
http://stocks.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20050615/local/park-and-ride-expected-to-cost-no-more-than-60c
Mr M Farrugia
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:09
It-transport Malta li l-Ministru Austin Gatt huwa responsabbli minnha ghamlu l-ilma jisfen ghal din il-kumpanija biex tkun success kbir. dan qed isir ghas-skapitu tal-poplu Malti i minn flus it-taxxi taghna. Il-popluli kienu juza l-park and ride issir irrid ihallas biz-zalza biex juza dan il-post. Min ma juzax dan il-post irrid jew jara fejn se jipparkja jew inkella ihallas flus sewwa kuljum. Prezzijiet gholja, sabiex tasal fuq il-post ta xoghol jew inkella prezz gholi ghal parkegg. Viva Arriva. Min-naha l-oħra sabiex jakkomoda lil din il-kumpanija f'certa bliet u irhula saru hafna xogholijiet bhal fil-park and rides u anki fit-toroq. Forsi xi hadd jghidilna kemm telaw dawn l-ispejjes mit-taxxi taghna. L-Arriva u transport Malta dawn ma jghiduhx. Il-poplu Malti sar qisu l-anglu tal-festa bin-niggiesa fuq wara u jidhaq.
Mr Joseph Sammut
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:48
Totally agree.
Mr Joseph E Briffa
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:11
Ix-xoghlijiet li qed issemmi hemm ser jibqghu u l-poplu ghandu jiehu pjacir bihom. Mhus obvja li t-taxpayer ser ihallas ghalihom; min trid ihallas Father Xmas? Ghandek tkun kuntent b'dawn ix-xoghlijiet, mhux ghalhekk jingabru t-taxxi! . Hawn xi post li ma jhallsux taxxi hlif dawk li ghandhom iz-zejt? Jekk ma tridx thallas ghall-parking uza trasport publiku, jekk jigik irhas. QED
Mr Lawrence Mifsud
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:03
Many who use their car, can now try out the new public system. I cannot see why one must drive to work from his home base to go to work in Valletta, when a bus is a much cheaper, and is less of a hassle. It only takes a try. One can take his car when going on specific errands, or when carrying some load.
Mr Michael Camileri
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:01
EUR3.75??? lololol Being ripped off big time. Better off getting the bus
Mr Michael Camileri
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:01
EUR3.75??? lololol Being ripped off big time. Better off getting the bus
Lawrence Caruana
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:00
When one apply for a Mepa permit he has to provide parking space for every dwelling he is building or otherwise he has to fork out hundred of euros to Mepa and of all emplyees a Mepa emplyee is crying to Arriva or whoever to provide him with a parking space. It should be Mepa providing parking space for employees
Mr V Mercieca
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:36
May I suggest to this MEPA employee to use his brains and buy a €10 week block and park his car and walk to work. I don’t believe that anyone will oblige him to catch a bus.
Mr Daniel Jones
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:22
exactly my thoughts.
Emma Saliba
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:59
according to the arriva website one has to validate the parking ticket once they board the bus..
Peter Bonnici
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:05
Better still, he should get on the bus and jump off at the traffic light intersection with St. Anne Street.
P Buħaġiar
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:16
Taf kemm ħa żieda il-ħaddiem f'sena? 1.16c euros għall 52 ġima. U int qed tisiġurixxi 10 euros f'ġima jew spiża ta' 520 euro f'sena.
Jew tgħejxu f'pjaneta oħra, jew in-nuċċali li tilbsu ikħal skur wisq.
Am Camilleri
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:36
@P Buhagiar - Workers have to get to work somehow - so they either pay for parking or pay for public transport. I think it was a bit unfair that those who could afford to own and run a car had FREE parking and FREE minibus - whilst others had to PAY to use a crappy bus system!
I. Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2011, 09:07
@AM Camilleri – Not sure under which rock you’ve been living, but fuel and circulation taxes are pretty steep, thus parking being “free” was not really a perk, how it is now its just an “over and above” expense. What is unfair is that after paying we still need to use public transport.
Am Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2011, 14:44
@I. Camilleri - precisely the rock you describe. I can't afford to run a car due to the expenses involved and am therefore forced to use the bus. Car users have a choice - but why would they even consider the possibility of using the bus if there is free parking available? The new situation is much fairer and car drivers can now make a new choice every day - sometimes the car for convenience . . . sometimes the bus for the cost.
Mr carlos ellul
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:34
Let me guess. The same policy makers who came out with these 'incentives' happen to have a private parking slot at work and will not use this incentive at all.
Ms Rose Cilia
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:59
Good guess Mr. Ellul.
Ms Rose Cilia
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:59
Good guess Mr. Ellul.
Mr David Micallef
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:30
That is why it is called 'Park & Ride' and not 'Park and Walk
Joseph Faure
Jul 4th 2011, 10:42
The Park and Ride apart from serving Valletta was also intended to serve the office entities in its immediate vicinty. I bet this imposition / burden does not seem to be affecting you.
Please choose the reason of your report below: