Bus disservice

We commuters are constantly and unavoidably at the mercy of recurrent irresponsive and insulting conduct by public bus drivers.

On January 1 a further hefty 5c increase in the fare for a trip formerly costing 15c came into effect. As if this fare was not "highway robbery" enough, judging by the way passengers were (and still are) treated, the increase, in the Prime Minister's words was to "upgrade and improve local bus transport." This must be the joke of the millennium.

On January 1, on the very first bus I rode, I was confronted by an ununiformed, unidentified man, reeking of cigarette smoke, who took the ticket from the machine and without even glancing in my direction tore it and pressed it into my hand. This happened while he animatedly continued chattering with the driver, distracting his attention and blocking part of his view. I take it that this gentleman is a bus ticket inspector.

For the past two years I have had to board the bus from in front of the Malta Airport Terminal, four or five times a week. As scheduled, the 34 (Zurrieq) bus has to detour and enter to pick up awaiting passengers at this bus stop.

As a result of undisciplined and uncaring drivers, this stopover has been repeatedly ignored, thus leaving me and other frustrated persons waiting for the next run, some 20-25 minutes later (when and if this eventually turns up). The way these drivers reason is that "hardly any commuters are waiting at this place" and "if tourists with their bags are waiting, then let them take a taxi!"

When I complained to Customer Care, the girl on duty was unaware of such service and scarcely bothered to understand what I was complaining about. She even had the nerve to ask me what the supposedly offending bus registration number was!

Incidentally, why is it that at this very important bus stop only the Gudja bus schedule is on display, attached to the pole? This states that bus No. 8 stops functioning at 8 p.m. without mentioning that the service (to Valletta) continues with bus 34 coming from Zurrieq. Even if this is a "touch-and-go" service, and the bus arrives here at the entire discretion or mood of the bus driver concerned, commuters should be informed of this eventuality.

One may rightly acknowledge that many old, ramshackle buses have been replaced, giving wider comfort and better service. True, but what about the upgrading of bus drivers? It is also true that not all bus drivers are uneducated, vulgar or downright offensive, but a good 25 to 30 per cent still smoke, use the mobile phone or blast your eardrums with their favourite radio station.

Disguising buses as instant coffee tins, or ice cream cones as a means of raising funds with offensive, ugly publicity is no way to upgrade a service. Introducing unfrequented, uncalled for fancy routes, taxing commuters for "direct service" is no way to improve the output.

On January 10, I had addressed these complaints to the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) and to the Scheduled Bus Service. Since two months have passed without receiving any denials or satisfactory reply from these bodies, I take it that these confirm their knowledge of the dreadful, degradable and appealing situation... and that they are entirely unconcerned.