Subway in greater use amid dirt and fears of assault

More people seem to be using the two subways in St Anne Street, Floriana.

They have to, as the alternative is to cross the road, which is too dangerous after the pelican lights were switched off.

The lights - which originally had been introduced as an experiment and which later became a permanent feature - were switched off temporarily some weeks ago by the Public Transport Authority pending the completion of the road construction works in preparation for the park-and-ride scheme nearby.

The ADT had "upgraded" the two subways in order to encourage their use but although people are using them their environment still leaves room for a lot of improvement. It is still dirty and littered and at times the place smells of urine.

Asked for their views, people acknowledge that using the subway is much safer than crossing the road but they would appreciate if the underground crossing were to be made more user friendly.

Women, in particular, fear subways particularly because of a sexual attack on a woman some time ago, although a woman user said she was encouraged to use the subway after she saw other people using it. In a way, the more use is made of the subways, the more people are encouraged to follow suit, she remarked.

The subway issue at Floriana was and still is a matter of controversy between the ADT and the Floriana local council.

Two weeks after the lights were switched off the council started circulating a petition among residents calling for the lights to be switched back on.

This, however, did not happen, because the lights were deemed to be an additional inconvenience to drivers who already had to put up with increased traffic resulting from the works taking place on the stretch from the Lion's Fountain to the Portes des Bombes.

The ADT insists that the lights will be switched on again after the road works are completed.

Mayor Publius Agius said over 400 residents have signed the petition, which will be presented to the Transport Minister to symbolically underline the residents' wish to leave the lights on permanently.

Mr Agius insists subways should be an alternative to the lights, not the solution, because it is difficult for many, including persons with mobility problems, to use the subways.

Statistics for the past three years show that a total of 29 accidents occurred along St Anne Street. Although none were fatal, nine persons were grievously injured. Another 20 sustained slight injuries.

"I have strictly prohibited my wife and son from using the subways," Floriana resident Charles Tonna said as he recalled the assault on a woman using a subway at Blata l-Bajda not long ago.

He had just crossed St Anne Street on the spot where the traffic lights are situated.

"Nowadays cameras are installed at various localities to check abuse; perhaps cameras could be installed in the subway to monitor them and to ensure that good use is made of them," he said.

Jimmy Vella, who works in Floriana, believes the subway is the safest way to cross the road but there was a lot of room for improvement in regard to cleanliness.

Seventy-three-year old Mary Farrugia, of Floriana, said that she did not mind using the subway. And she would not risk crossing the street without the lights. She would also appreciate a better environment down there.

Another Floriana resident, David Borg, said he was using the subway against his wish because he would not risk crossing the street without the safety of pelican lights.

"Despite the recent upgrading, subways need to be kept constantly clean," the resident, who signed the petition, said. They had to be clean if the authorities wanted the people to use the subways.

The fear of an attack in the subway was evident from the comments of a woman who replied when asked for her view on the subway: "They are good so long as you do not meet someone with ill intentions," Lorenza Demanuele, an elderly Floriana resident, remarked.

Among the few that could be seen crossing the road was an elderly man who said that after all it was only a short distance interrupted by a centre strip.

A middle-aged woman who had just done her shopping crossed the street and remarked that it was more convenient for her to cross than walk the 30 metres to the subway.

A sign with red lettering in English encouraged the people to use the subways.

But four young women, who must be unaware of the issue and who either did not see the notice or cannot read English, were yesterday observed pushing the button to wait for the lights to change.

After realising they were off, they did the most sensible thing - they used the subway.