Today was the first working day since free public transport was introduced in Malta.

The first day was Saturday but, being a weekend day, the first real test came on Monday.

Did more people use public transport? Did more ditch their car in favour of using the bus?

Judging from the amount of cars on the road this morning – and the traffic jams in most areas – it is unlikely that many changed their habit.

Traffic jams were reported in most parts of Malta, including Selmun, the St Paul’s Bay by-pass, Zebbug-to-Qormi, St Andrew’s, Tal-Barrani, Marsa and many other localities.

Many took to the social media to express their frustration, with some asking which feast was being celebrated - in reference to what Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia said a few weeks ago. The minister had said that traffic jams were mostly a result of village feasts. H was following in the footsteps of one of his predecessors, Joe Mizzi, who had described traffic as a "perception".

That it also happened to be the first day of school for some children – others started last week – did not help. But it is clear that free public transport has not attracted too many new bus users.

We wait and see.