Ron Johnston (September 4) seems to have fallen into the same pit as those whom he is accusing. The Arriva problem is far more complex than meets the eye.

The system was introduced mainly to reduce the slots just outside Valletta. We were promised buses of sizes appropriate to the Maltese islands. For example, those plying inside Valletta hardly ever cause confusion. Arriva have treated Malta on the same basis as the UK for the simple reason that we drive on the same side of the road and, therefore, they used buses (probably surplus in UK) as available to them.

The obnoxious bendy buses were rejected in London after causing traffic jams and facing various other problems. The London mayor gloated that they were dumped in Malta. The roads in Malta are just not suitable for monsters and this is mechanical failures apart. It is not our fault that Arriva are stuck with these monsters but we cannot accept to be lumped with them. All bendy buses must be taken off our streets. Bring in double-decker buses that occupy less space in the streets.

Regarding punctuality, Arriva fell victim to the ‘planners’ who made the wrong calculations, so long as fewer bays were required in Valletta. There were numerous problems with the old buses but no one can justify the current confusion and lack of punctuality by highlighting previous shortfalls. The Government and Arriva have to tackle these problems holistically.

They must have buses of sizes suitable to the roads of Malta and re-introduce the previous direct routes independent of the number of bays that are required at the Valletta terminus.

Piecemeal attempts will never solve the problems caused by inadequate and biased planning.