As from next July, the park-and-ride service, which shuttles people from the Floriana parking area to Valletta for free, will come at a price. When the public transport reform kicks in, commuters will have to fork out a daily charge of €2.50 to park and ride during the day or they could opt for a €10 seven-day ticket. Claudia Calleja gets the views of those who use the service. Many agreed that while the service was efficient the proposed fees were too pricey.

Esther Borg, 43, from Mġarr

I work in Valletta and use the park-and-ride every day. €2.50 a day amounts to about €60 a month, which for me is just too much. I’ll have to stop using the service and I know many people who feel the same way. It’s a big problem since catching the bus is not an option as I have to take my daughter to school before coming to work.

Tony Portelli, 63, from Sliema

I agree there should be some form of payment since the service is good, however, I think the proposed fees are too high. I would have thought €2.50 a week was more like it. I doubt I’ll keep using the park-and-ride to come to work in Valletta but I won’t use the bus. I’ll find a way to park my car somewhere.

Christopher Grech, 36, from Mtarfa

I’m lucky since I’m changing jobs and will not be working in Valletta anymore. From now on I’ll probably only come into Valletta on weekends when parking in the city is so far free. I guess providing the park-and-ride against payment may be an incentive for some to use the bus, but I believe there has to be a free parking alternative.

Carmel Mallia, 63, from Lija

I go to Valletta on average six times a month. Whoever came up with the park-and-ride idea should be praised. The price for a daily trip may be a bit high but nothing comes for free. The new public transport system remains a question mark but we all know that the park-and-ride is efficient.

Vanessa Millo, 33, from Sta Venera

The park-and-ride service cannot remain for free. I use the service practically every day and it is efficient. I think the €2.50 fee for a day trip is quite reasonable.

Daniela Bonello, 40, from Gżira

I think the new charges are pricey considering people like me use the service every day. The service offered through park-and-ride is excellent and imposing some form of fee is understandable. But €2.50 is too much. Every day I leave Valletta at 1 p.m. to go and pick up my children which means catching buses does not make sense for me.

Emmanuel Cauchi, 61, from Dingli

I think introducing payment is a bad move since, essentially, it’s another tax and expense imposed on people. I work for a delivery company based in Valletta and operate a van, so catching the bus is not an option. Today it took me an hour to try and park somewhere in Valletta but I didn’t manage and ended up at the park-and-ride.

John Mary Cauchi, 55, from Mellieħa

Of course, anything is better for free. But the reality is parking in Valletta is practically impossible. The park-and-ride offers a very good service so, I guess, €2.50 is a reasonable price for the comfort it offers. Having said that, I come to Valletta about once every fortnight so I won’t really feel the pinch as much as those who come here every day.