The government came up with two schemes to encourage people to use public transport when doing their Christmas shopping. Bus fares were either at a reduced rate or free of charge and cost bus drivers a total of e128,115 (Lm55,000), The Malta Independent on Sunday has learnt.

However, since patronage has increased considerably between 2006 and 2007, the public transport association registered no complaints as it is still subsidised by the government, even though the subsidy will soon be cut by almost half.

President of Public Transport Association Victor Spiteri told this newspaper that the free bus fare between 22 and 24 December cost the association e116,467 (Lm50,000), and the reduced bus fares, from e0.47 (20c) to e0.23 (10c) on the Sliema-St Julian’s route between 14 and 16 December, another e11,647 (Lm5,000). Mr Spiteri said that in these three days, bus drivers did not receive any commission.

The government had refused to raise bus fees and opted to subsidise public transport employees. However, due to the increasing number of passengers between 2006 and 2007, the government had saved around e1.164,686 (Lm500,000)

The Malta Independent on Sunday contacted Urban Development and Road ministry spokespersons who said that the number of passengers between 2006 and 2007 had increased by 7.2 per cent.

In 2006 patronage amounted to 29,958,132 while during 2007 patronage increased to 32,115,783, an increase of 2,157,651.

March saw the greatest rise, from 1.928,123 passengers in 2006 to 2,238,111 in the same month the following year, an increase of 16.08 per cent.

There was also an increase of 7.15 per cent in revenues when comparing 2007 to 2006.