The Times article Arriva’s Buses – Never Mind The Width, See The Quantity (October 3) reports that dimension-wise the Arriva buses are in line with the local regulations and legislation. Yet all can see that the Arriva buses are too big for Maltese roads. In certain areas even the old buses (which had able and experienced drivers) had difficulties in manoeuvring. For the new buses in many of the local roads, let alone villages and village cores, this is an impossibility.

That they are in line with the local rules and regulations is irrelevant. If they are unsuitable, they are unsuitable – even if within the parameters of the law. The size of the Arriva buses indicates a conceptual error, which is then compounded by the routes and times chosen.

The bendy buses have been rejected elsewhere – yet are now seemingly dumped on us. It is of course possible to send them back or to other countries with wider roads and which after turmoils in their land urgently require such buses. Only the smaller-sized buses should be used – with a well- thought-out timetable, I dare say mainly based on the old routes and with greater frequencies and hubs or centres from which to operate more easily and readily.

The Arriva debacle is a real pity because many people looked forward to having a better service than the old one. That the old buses needed to be changed, including the attitude of the drivers, was a foregone conclusion. But the change had to be to the better and not to the worse. Great expectations have ended in great delusions, for tourists as well as locals. The repercussions are substantial to both.

Admittedly the tourists had a rather enjoyable ride on the unique, quaint, old bus (even if smoke- and noise-emitting) – they now find a service which wastes precious time on their short holiday. Commuters now spend extra time in reaching their destination – recreative or workplace – often arriving late and being punished for such a late arrival. It is felt that such disciplinary action – lost pay or leave – against commuters should be passed on to Arriva.

Something must be done radically, quickly and efficiently. If it is not, the Arriva buses will be an ever-present testimony to a waste of taxpayers’ money and to a great fiasco.