With Arriva blaming Transport Malta and Transport Malta blaming Arriva and with Minister Austin Gatt abdicating all responsibility, it is no wonder our newspapers are full of complaints.

It seems that no one in this triumvirate is willing to accept responsibility, let alone show any compassion to or understanding of this public inconvenience and distress.

It would go a long way if Dr Gatt just said “Sorry. We have got it wrong. We will sort it out as soon as possible”. But I fear we will have to wait a long time for him to do that.

The simple answer is for Arriva to resume the routes used prior to July 3. To introduce a simple system of payment whereby the customer pays for the journey to his/her destination (forget all these time-sensitive tickets and fancy schemes) and most of all remove these monster “bendy” buses from our roads.

I saw three of these in convoy near the Marsa race course. It was impossible for anyone to pass and indeed very dangerous to attempt to. Why do these vehicles not have the words “long vehicle” on the rear?

I am afraid that unless all politicians get together and make an urgent concerted representation to the government, then this issue will keep dragging on.

Quite frankly I am amazed at the patience of the Maltese public. In other countries there would have been mass demonstrations!

There is a solution to all Malta’s transport problems – but it would be radical. I read that it costs around €90,000 a day to maintain the bus services. This equates to just over €32 million per annum, an overstatement in my view but let us assume it is the case.

Now with an excess of four million movements both by sea and by air, if a levy of €8 were placed on each departure or arrival, we could have a transport system that is “free”. Free to residents and free to tourists. Now wouldn’t that be something?!

Also, there would be savings in that no money would ever change hands at the bus stop obviating the need for drivers to carry money, for accountants to check receipts, for bankers to count the takings, etc.

It would also speed up journeys immensely as drivers would only have to stop to pick up and drop off passengers – no fiddling with change nor arguing about prices. The stress on the drivers would be greatly reduced. Congestion due to stationary buses would be dramatically reduced. Journey times would be shorter. Everyone would be happy.

The island is too small for a private operator to make a decent profit. I can only see an increase in ticket prices in about two years’ time. Public transport on this scale should be assumed and run by the public services.

Too radical? Maybe.

But I think the party that took up the challenge would win the next election hands down. I have little doubt that Brussels would have something to say about it though.