It is unbelievable that the Ministry for Transport introduces new measures - such as the new bus lane in Gzira - without having the necessary data to back such measures.
If the Hon. Minister does not know how many people use the buses between Sliema and the Strand in Gzira, how did his Ministry decide to dedicate one lane only for buses, and throughout the whole day?
http://pq.gov.mt/pqweb.nsf/5ab326fbcb184092c1256877002c4f19/c1257d2e0046dfa1c1257dfe002ae654!OpenDocument
If Transport Malta were led by competent people, the first thing that it should have done would have been to determine the number of people who use the buses between Sliema and Gzira, every hour of every working day, and every hour on Saturdays and Sundays.
It is on the basis of such data that a decision could have been taken on whether it would be appropriate to dedicate a bus lane along the Strand in Gzira, and for which hours and days.
The blanket decision to introduce a dedicated bus lane in Gzira for all hours of the day reveals the incompetence of the people taking such a decision. Have these decision-makers considered other alternatives? As a minimum, have they considered introducing a bus lane for peak hours only?
Have these decision-makers ever heard of an alternative lane, whereby a lane changes direction according to the flow of traffic, leaving two lanes for general traffic in the appropriate direction?
The decision to take a lane and dedicate it to buses is not acceptable to car owners and drivers. Cars do not hold up buses; most of the time it is the other way round. Everybody moves along at about the same speed. Both private cars and buses are stuck in traffic.
Transport Malta should conduct a study for a traffic signal priority programme that would allow buses the green light, which could speed bus travel.
In the present circumstances, the Ministry for Transport is proceeding blindly without the required data, and it is rendering a disservice to both bus passengers and private car owners and drivers.
Alfred A. Farrugia