Friday, 16th May 2008 - 18:15CET
ADT in strong rebuttal of bus owners' claims
The Transport Authority (ADT) this evening stood by the emission tests being conducted on route buses and said it had no problem about showing the bus owners’ association the technical qualifications of the people conducting the tests.
The ADT was reacting to an earlier statement by the Public Transport Association, which represents the bus owners.
The association had called for talks with the Transport Ministry and the ADT with a view to resolving the current dispute over emission testing of buses.
The association said it had been complaining with the ADT for several months over the way the emission tests were conducted. This, therefore, was not a case of defending a particular bus driver. It said it was continuing to insist that the ADT show it the qualifications of the persons carrying out such tests.
If the government was really concerned about the health hazard of emissions it should proceed with the 1995 agreement for the replacement of the old buses, the association added.
In its reply, the ADT said it could not accept the claim that the buses were belching fumes because they were old.
All the route buses on the road had passed their VRT test. Facts showed that excessive emissions were the result of adjustments made to the buses after the VRT.
Indeed, buses which failed the emission tests in the morning passed the test by the evening.
The authority said it could not accept to have bus drivers controlled the tests. What the association was suggesting was like allowing exam candidates to set the exam paper!
The authority said, however, that it had no problem with the members of the association inspecting the technical certification if the testers when they called at its offices.The ADT appealed for common sense and urged the authority to allow the law to be properly enforced and do its best to ensure that its members conformed.
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Comments
Why have we taxpayers paid for these subsidies, when the owners still have their old buses and use their old ones for Public transport, while they leave the new ones for their "Private" work.
Can someone tell us what is the average income of the bus drivers/owners? I am sure that they are in a class of their own.
Maybe they claim that they work long hours! Why is it that they work long hours, when everyday on our roads there are almost half of the buses (providing Public Transport), while the other half are either garaged, or otherwise doing private work?
Can the Office for Fair Competition investigate this, since it is unfair on the owners of Private Coaches who buy their coaches without any Government subsidy?
Dr GATT, take action please! This time, even Labourites, and Alternattiva Demokratika supporters will back you!!
It's the same old story of entrenched attitude not wanting change... Well like it or not, at SOME point the PTA are going to have to be dragged, kick and screaming most likely, into the 20th century (21st might be a little ambitious!) It may as well be sooner rather than later, so please minister, bite the bullet and do what is very obvious to all road users needs to be done: revamp the system. And not the usual whitewash - a total overhaul... You will certainly not be losing any votes over it....
So they failed the VRT in the morning but passed in the evening. Mickey Mouse is too serious for this country!!!!!!!!! If these people were helpful and courteous when doing their job, perhaps, I repeat perhaps, some of us could try and have (still very difficult indeed) some
sympathy for them. Once again, there are some of them who are helpful and friendly but a very small percentage. Everybody can see from here that the whole population is up in arms against them and with reason. Therefore, yes, they have to do the emission tests as the law stipulates and if they do not pass the bus is grounded plus a hefty, but very hefty fine. Can't they understand that they are jeopardizing the health of their families too? Or even this they cannot comprehend? Mr Minister, please GET ON WITH IT. You have the backing of the whole population, less some of course!!!
As usual, strong with the weak and weak with the strong.
Failing which I am afraid you will go down in history as the man we all thought would have the guts to do something.........but did sweet nothing.
And once again it was blah blah blah.
Please note that all of us WOULD HAVE BACKED YOU. SHAME !!
Please, for goodness' sake, take some real action.
The bus drivers are an insult to our common sense. Who needs emission sms's. just stand at the Strand, Gzira, (no hills) and watch the buses fume. Minister are we going back to the old times, where might is right. ??? Look after your citizens and you'll get more than just a few votes. You'll get our respect. Otherwise sad to say, but seems the teeth have disappeared.
2. Create a group of inspectors whose remuneration is basic with hefty increases in their remuneration directly related to their ability to report mishaps, whihc has to be supplemented with hard evidence (such as photos, videos, witnesses). They would monitor that conditions of service are adhered to, with an incentive to do so.
3. Remove all monopolies of how many licences can be granted, etc. Let them COMPETE for good service and cheaper prices.
PTA must know that even the brand new buses belch clouds of black smoke!!!
I am generally against liberalisation of basic services, but being that this has been the longest hostage sage on the planet its high time that drastic action is taken...
All this has come at a cost of tax payers money and of our environment....and as they say in italian .. il terzo gode, as the car importers are glad that we have a non existent public transport system !
If the fuel grade was the problem than all the buses will be emitting excess fumes. As regard reform, while there are some drivers and buses which get close to a preferred service, the rest expect that we should be grateful just to have them on the road!
While we are considering about subsidising companies who are employing thousand and helping the Maltese economy in the balance of trade the PTA is demand that its members will be above the law and expect that the Maltese will help them to keep this status quo by accepting their non service and keeping shelling out extra euro in fare increases.
Everything can be done if they wanted to ... they just want us to pay for it that's all.
A private enterprise subsidised by tax payers' money
liberalise the market ....
WHY SHOULD PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLE OWNERS GET THOUSANDS OF EUROS SUBSIDIES INCLUDING TO BUY THEIR BUSES WHEN I GET NOTHING IF I CHANGE MY CAR?
START AN EFFICIENT PORT LAUNCHES SERVICE LIKE THERE USED TO BE A LONG TIME AGO.
We're fed up driving behind these old trucks (actually they can't be called public transport buses) with our kids (and ourselves) inhaling filthy black toxic fumes. SHAME!!!
Malta is a full member of the EU.... or this "does not" apply?
ACTION (not talks) IS NEEDED!!!
Let's take back the subsidised buses ( many being used for private work) and have a private company come in a run them on main routes from each village. And then open up the roads to private enterprise who will flourish by giving a good customer service
The Public Transport Association should open talks with the government in order to subsidise the conversion from diesel engines to maybe gas driven ones if they really want to solve both the emissions and excessive fuel costs issues.
1. meetings with the government
2. some sort of agreement for better environmental service which as happened in the past with all other agreements is never implemented.
3. government accepts an increase in price for bus tickets against no. 2
what will come out of all this:
a price increase in the tickets and that's all.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN.