CLAIMS * Cyprus - Action not words on public transport
The Government this week announced major infrastructure work to improve public transport in Nicosia
Nicosia,Cyprus -The Cyprus Mail -4 May 2008: -- ... The authorities say this is just one part of a major action plan that includes a total overhaul of urban transport policy, as well as inter-city routes and public transport links to the island’s two airports... Two years ago, it seemed the government was getting serious, with the announcement of a £275 million plan to increase public transport usage from two to ten per cent by 2015. The plan made all the right suggestions... But residents since then have so far seen very little to back up those promises... The decline in public transport over the years has been palpable: in 1980, buses carried 13 million passengers but by 2004 this had fallen to only 3.5 million, despite the influx of foreign workers, who, together with the elderly, are now the only people to use public transport. Only two per cent of the population now say they ever use the bus, a shocking indictment of the quality of service... The fact is that buses are infrequent, unreliable, uncomfortable and often driven at breakneck speeds... What is needed is the political will. For years, we have poured money into projects that have encouraged private motor traffic to the detriment of public transport, the environment and our urban quality of life. Now it’s time to overturn our priorities. Not only must we encourage public transport (and here we hope the government goes through with its ambitious pledges), we must actively discourage private car use... (Video from YouTube, by tsndmyk - July 10, 2007: "Road to Troodos" - Journey on a local bus from Cyprus capital, Lefkosia (Nicosia) to Promorodos village in Troodos mountain)
posted by Unknown @ 11:11 AM
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