‘Illegal parking is getting in the way of our buses’

Tony Zammit

Dec 8th 2011, 06:40

Keith Bastow" Why don’t you start with your bus drivers, not stopping in the bus lane properly.

Stefan Camilleri

Dec 7th 2011, 17:55

I think the campaign for proper driving is great, and an excellent start.

Yet as Maltese, we have a very long way to go before we can consider ourselves 'decent' drivers.

It would be nice if there could be a campaign aimed at driving manners.

Like:
- teaching people what an indicator is used for
- how to take turns when approaching a roundabout
- how to slow down to let people coming out of junctions pass
- how a horn is not there to produce music for people who have their radios turned off

...and how all this, in the end, will drop traffic levels considerably.

Christina Pace

Dec 7th 2011, 08:16

May I point out to Superintendent Martin Bayliss that lack of use of seatbelts does not cause accidents. It does make them worse but doesn't cause them.

A Cardona

Dec 7th 2011, 00:09

@ Mr Bastow

Why don't you consider installing a siren on top of the buses like the ones on police cars and ambulances??

James Wightman

Dec 6th 2011, 23:09

Would be nice to see that safety campaign extended to include 'Drivers being a bit more thoughtful to cyclists' afterall we are doing our bit to reduce congestion.

James Wightman

Dec 6th 2011, 23:03

If the owner of parked White RangeRover GND111 struck by BUS163 at 8.00am this morning gets in touch with me I'm willing to be a witness. I was the cyclist who picked up the bits of your mirror. Another gentleman wrote down the bus number and tucked it under your windscreen. The bus driver noticed s/he hit the mirror but just kept going.

Victor Vella

Dec 6th 2011, 21:14

Now we take our cars from the streets so that we make way for Arriva. If these buses were not suited to Malta who made the mistake has to carry the burden and not throw it on the people. We are neither the rubbish nor the bin of those incompetent, arrogant persons who are supposed to do the right things.

Stanley Zammit

Dec 6th 2011, 20:30

Can anyone enlighten me as to the purpose of the Park and Ride in Pembroke? Any commuters from the Swieqi/Pembroke area just walk to the bus stop and leave their car at home. What this enclosed Parking area has created is hardship for parents of the nearby secondary schools and football nurseries, who just go there to pick up children, and parking now is very restricted. Each time we pass from this area there is not one single car parked.

Doreen Parnis

Dec 6th 2011, 19:48

First of all the illigal parking, was always there even with the old buses, which was'nt a problem since the buses were not so big.
Second you should see your drivers, driving in a very dangerous manners. example B'kara Rd going to Mrabat. I think they just close thier eyes and keep going at a high speed. no wonder every bus collided .
Even by themselves they don't give a chance. 2 weeks ago at Rudolph str sliema, 2 busees going opposite way, collided with each other, and caused hours of waiting for private cars to go through, plus the poeple on the buses had to go down from them .This could be avoided if one of the driver stopped one meter before .
Third yes there should be more police and warden,deployed to make tickets for illigal parking,but this should be done not only because there is a bus coming, but every time , every one who owns a car pay the road licence, not only Arriva. and stop discriminating with deploying police to stop vehicles, when a bus is in traffic. all of us wants to arrive in time too.
This is just OR USE ARRIVA OR YOU SUFFER .

MALCOLM SEYCHELL

Dec 6th 2011, 19:04

@ Mr Batsow. If your company did some research or even bothered to send someone to Malta for at least a week before the launching, your company would have known that this in Malta is the order of the day.

B Borg

Dec 6th 2011, 17:41

Few days ago, I got on the mini van that goes inside Valletta, a trip from Castille Square to the Waterfront on bus 133, if not mistaken. The driver had to stop in every few meters because cars were left in the middle of the carrage-way in double parking and waiting their drivers finish their errands in shops nearby. What I tought was a trip of few minutes took some 45 minutes, and yet people on the bus stops were complaing with the driver that he was late.

Anthony Mallia

Dec 6th 2011, 17:30

Regard the accidents, in my opinion the cause is the fast speed these buses are being driven. When I have a bus behind I always go to the side so they they pass because I had times when they were blowing their horn or flushing their lights for me to drive faster

Rishi Bonello

Dec 6th 2011, 17:17

If only Mr Keith Bastow, took note of my letters and petition from the residents of Valletta. Complain without getting heard. Thats what We got in return, and that what you get in return.

Darren J. Galea

Dec 6th 2011, 16:24

There is a problem with illegal parking here - the problem is that is completely out of control. Everyone parks where they like, when they like, and wardens are scared to book them unless they are old or femaile.

j brincat

Dec 6th 2011, 16:19

Couldn't it be the case that these buses are too large for our roads, Mr. Bastow?

Didn't you make your homework correctly before coming to Malta?

(jb)

A Camilleri

Dec 6th 2011, 15:44

dont forget you are in malta mr.bastow, anything goes on our roads!!!!

Sandro Magri

Dec 6th 2011, 15:20

Seems that the illegal parking started since arriva came !!
Why you don`t ask to remove all cars from the streets so you can say you have an excellent service!!!
Can`t grip to any more excuses!

Carmel camilleri

Dec 6th 2011, 15:18

Traffic offenses are now common with illegal parking leading the list, regrettably even infront of our police stations. ex. Fgura, Paola, Hamrun. This is being allowed to accommodate businesses' outlets.

charles tabone

Dec 6th 2011, 15:14

True! Just watch traffic flow in Cospicua Road, Paola, the bottleneck leading to Paola Square; or St Joseph High Street, Hamrun just opposite St Cajetan's church. These two main arteries have no parking double yellow lines and no parking signs. BUT....Can I ask the Police in both localities or the wardens to do their duty!

Mario Grima

Dec 6th 2011, 14:34

I would have imagined that a company which operates in 14 European countries and employing more than 45,000 people would have the strategic acumen to plan its newly acquired operations before they are actually launched. The nonsense being uttered by Mr. Bastow reflects the poor management skills of this company which failed to take into account that the bendy buses, which were withdrawn from the streets of London, would actually be difficult to manouvre in the narrow roads of Malta. All I have experienced from the Arriva mess is the increase in traffic jams all over the Island mainly due to the company's policy of :-

(1) the use of the bendy buses,
(2) having 2 or even 3 buses from the same destination following each other and thus making it virtually impossible to overtake them.
(3) the bus-stops built by our dear transport minister Austin Gatt at the expense of the Maltese tax-payer are too small for the bendy buses, thus when they stop they block the main roads.

Diego Csaba

Dec 6th 2011, 14:11

Illegal parking ? Where in Malta ?? Oh come on - nobody parks illegally here!! There are wardens and police for that! Oh come on ... stop joking around will you ? Illegal parking in Malta hahaha Next thing you will say is that police and wardens are lazy and not doing their jobs - our roads are in need for repair, road builders in Malta are all monkeys, and that we have a terrible government not giving a damn about public road safety! Come on!! We all know they are all lies lies lies!

Robert Pace Bonello

Dec 6th 2011, 14:05

Illegal parking is endemic, especially in Sliema. The authorities are well aware of the problem but do not seem to care enough to do anything about it.

Jonathan Sciberras

Dec 6th 2011, 13:41

We can all understand the problem of double parking and illegal parking. But how will arriva compensate us when we get daily delayed on our roads as arriva buses break down and block our roads.!!!!!

B. Pollacco

Dec 6th 2011, 13:16

go to hamrun in the morning(during peak hours) cars(mostly delievery buses) are staying on the main road in hamrun(coming from santa venera)

E. Azzopardi

Dec 6th 2011, 13:02

.Before ARRIVA came to Malta, many had stated that they needed the co-operation of the authorities to succeed. So first, as we were too avant garde we messed it up for them and now it seems that they are not getting this co-operation where traffic management ( does this mean anything in Malta?) is concerned.
We have really made a "success" of of this new transport system, I must say. Is there anybody in charge on this little piece of rock???

Mr Simon Camilleri

Dec 6th 2011, 12:56

I was under the impression that Arriva carried out 'extensive testing' before starting. What with the 'congestion' excuse and now the 'parking' excuse, it seems that their testing wasnt so extensive after all and all their calculations are seriously flawed. This is meant to be a professional company but it seems they did no groundwork at all. The situation existed long before Arriva turned up. Any fool knew that our roads were terminally congested and that illegal parking has been the national sport ever since I can remember. What excuse will be next - the potholes, the rain, our water-soluble white lines?

George Calleja

Dec 6th 2011, 12:56

Illegal and reckless parking is rampant in many places. Take Mrabat Street where even if there is no parking, this street is too narrow for two saloons to pass each other at the same time. Most of the street has illegal parking from the top of Savoy Hill to the petrol station near the square leading to B'Kara Rd. It is becoming impossible to drive without risk of being hit. Our streets were not built for these huge saloons which are used in wide highways in other countries. Let alone the Arriva buses. The solution is to give way when one sees an Arriva bus coming.

Carmel Zammit

Dec 6th 2011, 12:50

"clients who will be using our parking facilities"

Mr. Bastow's statement makes interesting reading. Facilities built with public funds for presumably public use have now become Arriva's parking facilities!!! Whom are we to thank for this Dr. Gonzi or Dr. Gatt?

Victor Laiviera

Dec 6th 2011, 12:49

Which buses are "finding it difficult to manoeuvre"? Not the bendy buses by an chance?

What does he expect, after they were banned from the streets of London and dumped here?

debbie Voss

Dec 6th 2011, 12:43

TM gave arriva the cherry on the cake when they gave arriva the park and ride which was free before. I use my car today .

Charles Mangion

Dec 6th 2011, 12:36

Arent Arriva bus drivers supposed to take a photos of these Infringment also Bus Drivr of Arriva Number 240 Sunday 3rd Dec route 92 while with passengers stopped by Fgura Church at 07-40 to buy cheese cakes its not the first time that this happened are the cameras installed in buses not working also still displaying UK routes or not in service while io some routes C.Mangion

Mario Sammut

Dec 6th 2011, 12:33

I bet all the money in the world that the majority of the people who were so quick to lambast such a great company like Arriva , are the same people who park haphazardly on bus stops and everywhere else with impunity . The authorities , who ever they may be , should be penalizing these charlatans where it hurts them most , in their pockets . I cannot get over how our drivers use Bus Stops as parking bays without even a flicker of an eyelid from the police or wardens . I live just behind such a Bus Stop in Valley Road , Birkirkara , and most days during the week , commuters have to walk out in the middle of the road to catch the bus because the Bus Stop is used as a parking bay for second hand cars . Thats the level of impunity our authorities refuse to deal with .

Charles Mangion

Dec 6th 2011, 12:30

Where are the TRANSPORT MALTA Enforcment Officers and Traffic Policeman go by Montabello Showroom at bir Id Dheb and on bus lane at Floriana by thee Police Station and in fgura opposite the Police Station to name a few and Gzira Front C.Mangion

Mr Karl Ciarlo'

Dec 6th 2011, 12:20

Illegal parking has always been a problem on the Island, as in other countries. Can the buses themselves also be contributing to the escalation of the problem? I seem to remember the old King Longs passing by each other in Rue D'Argens and Rudolph street quite easily. But not the new ones.

Joe Grech

Dec 6th 2011, 12:17

Yes indeed parking has become a nightmare in most of the built up areas Mr. Bastow. But then again Arriva's huge Bender vehicles are not helping the situation. Take those off our roads a.s.a.p.!
Hopefully Minister Austin Gatt will be insisting with Arriva to do this...if he really cares, of course.

Tony Agius

Dec 6th 2011, 12:11

It is a fact that in this country , irresponsible parking is the number one habit , and that is the main problem for all citezens , careful parking will be for all citizens benefit , not only for Arriva , who after all are giving their service to the Maltese citizens .

A. Mizzi

Dec 6th 2011, 12:08

GIVE US BACK OUR PARKING ....and free parking at the Park & Ride!

Ian Vella

Dec 6th 2011, 11:54

yeah right!!

Darby Allen

Dec 6th 2011, 11:40

"Mr Bastow was speaking during the launch of an advertising campaign on 75 of its buses urging people to ... refrain from using their mobile phone while driving."

I agree wholeheartedly, Mr Bastow - perhaps you could start with your own drivers! I have written to Arriva Malta more than once to report Arriva drivers for using mobile phones whilst driving, but it is still going on; on Friday 2nd December at approx 1210hrs I was walking from Mosta to Rabat when I saw the driver of a No23 bus, heading towards Mosta, holding up his phone in front of his face and either making a call or writing a text.

Joseph Stafrace

Dec 6th 2011, 11:39

Mr. Bastow; you should start by ordering your drivers to stop using their mobile phones whilst driving. I have personally seen one driving a bendy bus in Zejtun whilst using his phone! If as stated that the Arriva buses are fitted with cameras , how come these drivers are not disciplined!

Mr John Borg

Dec 6th 2011, 11:36

Why not see the hundreds of times busses do not enter the bus bays and hence block all traffic. Try drive along Tower Road in Sliema when you are cought up behind three busses all in a row making their stops!

Why not blame illegla parking on the fact that parking spaces have been taken up to create ridiculous bus lanes at Sliema Ferries which are being used by Sight-seeing busses as parkign bays. Aren't these illegally parked?

Or a bus lane which is discontinued and the bus has nowhere to go except back onto the normal lanes packed with traffic?

Why not paint road marking on the floor to clearly show that sliema ferries is a dual carriageway? Drivers continuously drive in the middle of the road thinking it's a single carriageway!

Lawrence Attard

Dec 6th 2011, 11:35

I think it is about time that the Police should stop turning a blind eye to all the traffic contraventions that occur every day in Malta. As an example, nobody stops at a Stop Sign, including the Police themselves.
It is also about time that the Arriva buses should start using their front-mounted cameras and report drivers who park their cars illegally.
I urge Mr. Bayliss to have a meeting with all his police officers and tell them to wake up and start doing their job. Mr. Bayliss should spend some time in Canada, there he will learn what obeying the law really means.

John Cutajar

Dec 6th 2011, 11:32

this is ridiculous, I think most of the jams we have are caused by Arriva.. when I see some traffic in usually non traffic areas, I look far away and I see an Arriva bus, taking ages to drive or not entering the bus stop and stopping in the middle of the road. And the bus stop would be empty....

We cannot afford having so much big buses here in Malta...considering the amount we have as well... and the condition of our roads..

Carmel Farrugia

Dec 6th 2011, 11:21

Mr Bastow is rigtht... parking is indiscriminate... such as at the bottom of Manuel Dimech Street on the side of the Ferries. Arrifva buses have always to wait until one or more irregularly parked cars are removed. And now we also have double parking at the edge of the large bus bay at the Ferries making it impossible for the bendy buses to manovere out of the bay.

Jonathan Zammit Lapira

Dec 6th 2011, 11:16

Better late than never to speak up Mr. Bastow. But again, why you speak now when you started operating on the 3rd July????? Also you need to educate some drivers and tell them not to keep on going when the red light is on in the traffic lights!!!! Also teach them to give way to small cars especially in streets like Mrabat.

Pierre Mangion

Dec 6th 2011, 11:11

Arriva do have a piont here. just drive along the gzira/sliema/st julians strand and you'll see double parking all the way. most of times there are delivery trucks who block a lane just because they need to deliver goods. most of times you'll see reserved spaces for deliveries taken up by non delivering vehicles. cars parked in bus stops with hazard lights on.

i cannot understand the rational behind waiting for someone in double parking blocking a lane but not use a space a few meters further up - even if this space is an entrance to a garage, as long as you;re in the car waiting there should be no inconvenience as the minute someone needs to access, the blocking vehicle could be moved by its occupant.

A Cachia

Dec 6th 2011, 11:06

illegal parking gets in everyones way....so do people on a mobile phone.....so do workers fixing a light at 8.15am like ENEMALTA were doing this morning further down from the St.Venera Tunnels...

Demis Paul Scerri

Dec 6th 2011, 10:56

Just shut up and don't start with any exuses. It will be much better if Transport Malta will start to impose penalties on your company. Together with Dr. Gatt you've made a whole mess of the transport system.

Franco Abela

Dec 6th 2011, 10:50

Asked about the park-and-ride in Floriana which, ever since Arriva started charging €10 a week, is barely being used, Mr Bastow said the rate compared favourably with those for cars parks closer to Valletta"

BUT YOU ARE USING OUR LAND... PAID BY OUR TAXES! YOU ARE CHARGING AROUND 2.50 FOR A 2 minute trip!

James McIntosh

Dec 6th 2011, 10:39

There should be clamping and towing on a grand scale with a 500 euro charge to release the car from the compound. There is too much turning of the blind eye to the selfishness of illegal parking.
Zero tolerance is what is needed and REALLY large fines to discourage those who believe that puting on the 4 way flashers is a shield from the wardens and police,
The observance of parkimg rules within Maltese shores has slid into a farcical situation where people just stop at will to condut their business, no matter what the resultant chaos their actions have on the rest of the motorists.

V. Cauchi

Dec 6th 2011, 10:38

Aesop's fable: an elephant complained ants were getting in its way once it chose to tread into a colony. Unable to convince the ants, it whipped the flies on its back with its trunk saying they had the cheek to push too hard!

Geoff Gibson

Dec 6th 2011, 10:34

I'm surprised the early comments on here are attacking the Arriva for the statement made. Ignore the fact it is the bus company making the declaration, are you all completely happy with the parking on the island? Have you never been effected by someone abandoning their car, putting their hazard lights on and going off to a shop?

Illegal parking in Malta is a horrendous problem, causes SO many blocks, traffic jams and accidents, and there doesn't have to be a bus involved for that.

Mr Mario Gauci

Dec 6th 2011, 10:22

You got the Park and Ride for nothing. Shame on you for these charges, you ruined one of the very few good things that we as a nation were benefitting from.

Paul Cauchi

Dec 6th 2011, 10:19

Regardless of who made this complaint, this is a problem. Cars block roads and wardens just drive by. It is ridiculous that traffic flow must stop because of some guy buying pastizzi.

PAUL BUSUTTIL

Dec 6th 2011, 10:10

Mr. Barstow everything you have written above is simply a poor excuse, not for a bad service but for the buses you are using and the drivers driving these buses. You need to spend a few days being driven around the roads of Malta and see the total chaos your buses and drivers are creating. If you cant see what i mean than you cant see the wood for the trees. If you you like i will personally take you round the troubled hot spots on our roads maybe then you might admit that what the Maltese driving public are saying is TRUE.

Jon Vercellono

Dec 6th 2011, 09:57

Sorry, but after taking the bus virtually every day; I have witnessed gross negligence of many many car drivers and in many cases - I would be hard-pressed to believe that any of the accidents was the fault of Arriva. For example, I have seen the busses put on their indicators to go into traffic and wait for a reasonable gap - whilst other cars speed up to go around the bus - endangering the bus, traffic in the oncoming lane, as well as themselves. Secondly, when a bus is at a bus stage, give them 10 seconds at least before honking or rushing around them (which also endangers passengers alighting from the bus). People got an attitude about the busses from many of the unwarrented comments made earlier , and now are using any excuse to complain (even after the system has been fixed to accomodate them).

Roberta Buhagiar

Dec 6th 2011, 09:55

It is shocking to read "Safety is always high on Arriva’s agenda.", when I have come across many bus drivers doing anything but this!!! One incident I recall in particular was a bus driver who not only kept driving straight on when he was meant to have stopped at a give way sign while we were going round a round-about, but he was also typing a message on his mobile phone and had the cheek to swear at us when we honked our horn at him.... He was a threat to my life but more importantly that of my two babies... From my point of view we might have more modern buses, but in reality nothing has changed....

Anthony Pace

Dec 6th 2011, 09:50

Keith Bastow you imported huge cumbersome buses that cannot manipulate the junctions in our roads. Please leave the islands together with all yur bulky buses and bendy ones. You cannot have it all your way. JUST LEAVE whilst there is still time to make some sense of the public transport system together with all your english staff. Your buses are not suited to our roads and you know that well.

pat muscat

Dec 6th 2011, 09:48

The wardens do see illegal parking on bus stops at Mosta in front of the Health Center, but then they are quick to book an unfortunate car in some remote side street on the outskirts ! The warden system is a racket for tax collection, and to make a few good fellas rich overnight!

Christopher Pollard

Dec 6th 2011, 09:34

Please ask the police to clarify the rules about the wearing of seat belts by police officers in police cars. Often, in fact more often than not, we see no belts being worn as police cars go by. In UK there is a rule which says that officers in hot pursuit may discard their belts but otherwise they must obey the law. Is there a similar rule here?

Joseph Borg

Dec 6th 2011, 09:29

... and buses are getting in the way of oncoming traffic!

Peter Murray

Dec 6th 2011, 09:20

These "new" drivers are predominantly not foreigners now but ,Maltese nationals who are fully aware of this excuse offered for accidents happening,ie. "indiscriminate illegal parking" which has been the status quo in Malta since the invention of the motor vehicle as is nothing new to these drivers to counteract or be aware of already and this disgraceful disregard and intolerance towards road traffic ordinance effects all drivers on our roads and not just Arriva- but who is doing anything tpo resolve or reduce what is widely known or is it just accepted as another classic example of "only in Malta"?

Charles Sammut

Dec 6th 2011, 09:20

Mr. Bastow, it is YOUR buses that are getting in the way of motorists.

The mini roundabout at the top of Spinola hill is a case in point. Invariably two or three buses arrive simultaneously and one of them will be a bendy bus. They clog this vital artery for several minutes every time because they cannot fit in the bus bays.

You have to admit that you did not do your homework well and are using buses that are unsuited for our roads.