In defence of bendy-buses

Those clamouring for Boris Johnson and jumping on this bandwagon of his mockery should also be willing to fork out more subsidies to Arriva to buy more small buses.

James Debono 10 October 2012, 12:00am

3 min read

Bendy-bus mirth as Labour deploys Tory humour against transport minister Austin Gatt.

Huge mammoths on the road are bound to be unpopular with motorists, especially when these are not being driven well or not deployed properly along major arteries and end up clogging town centres.

But while many complain about the arrival of the bendy-bus, which can take 120 people at one go, few complain the fact that too many private cars are clogging our roads. The fact that bendy-buses can take so many people at one go on one bus, is in itself positive and helps to reduce congestion.

Bendy-buses are an easy target in a country where we are still struggling with the inevitability of giving precedence to public transport over private motorists.

I am sure the majority of Maltese drivers identified themselves with Boris Johnson's jibe that he is delighted that bendy-buses are clogging up streets in Malta. Most of them ignore the fact that it is primarily their own small cars that are clogging our streets and causing respiratory diseases.

Boris Johnson's choice to reintroduce the double-decker was a typical Tory choice which ignored the needs of disabled people, people carrying trolleys and pushchairs, and those who were no longer left behind in large queues.

I personally remember having to wait for hours in long queues on the Sliema-Gzira promenade. Clearly on such routes the only alternative to the bendy-bus is a legion of smaller buses: a solution that could be more polluting and less cost-effective. Those clamouring for Boris Johnson and jumping on this bandwagon of his mockery should also be willing to fork out more subsidies to Arriva to buy more small buses.

Probably motorists will still be grumbling if the number of buses increases. Moreover the number of buses should increase irrespective of the number of bendy-buses on our roads. Just imagine the reaction of the same motorists if a tramline was introduced right in the middle of our roads!

Surely there are roads where such means of transport is unsuitable and where these buses are still being used nonetheless. Neither does the deployment of bendy-buses at night, when they are practically empty, make much sense.

It is also clear that not just any driver can drive a bendy-bus properly, and that they have to be specifically trained for this purpose.

What would make sense is to use bendy-buses to carry commuters along the main arteries, while increasing the number of smaller buses within town centres. Ideally we should move towards the idea of interconnections where commuters travelling on large buses are dropped in stages where they can complete their journey on a small bus.

But let's not get too much impressed by a jocose Tory's "little England" pearls of wisdom. Bendy-buses are used in most of Europe. The Economist notes "many of the capital's rejects are being picked up rather closer to home, by Bristol and Brighton". The article also dismisses Johnson's claims that bendy-buses are cyclist killers.

Moreover his decision to ditch bendy-buses was not universally acclaimed especially by the most vulnerable categories public transport is meant to serve. Boris Johnson's choice to replace bendies with double deckers was socially regressive.

As former Guardian editor Peter Preston wrote: "Just crunch the numbers. The bendies could fit 120 on board: double deckers take only 85. You can feel the squeeze already. Maybe there still seem to be plenty of places left - but half of them are upstairs. We strugglers don't do stairs. No sticks, no shopping trolleys and - in my case - look, not much in the way of arms..."

James Debono is MaltaToday's chief reporter on environment, planning and land use issues, ...

More from James Debono

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it is not our cars that are clogging the roads - it is the chaotic 'planning' of TM to our roads 1) reducing the width of the roads. Take mgarr road where large pavement was created where it could have accomadated 2 lane cars andnot stay on second gear after some sunday drivers (plus remembering then to include a cyclist lane and they do it on the pavement) 2) creating low speed cameras say in zebbug road and hal far raod. Where the efficient level of consumpiton would be around 80 km/h and not 60 and 70! 3) creating multidutes of no entires into villages ending up driving kilometeres just to get from one point to the other 4) regulators and police are nowhere to be seen expect to charge u for no parking or using mobile. PArking on roundabout areas such as in zebbug ( near mikile anton vassalli square) is rampant thus blocking and slowing traffic coming on a heavy two lane road to one lane congestion. 5) businesses are accomadated and authorities leave even 3 lane parking on either side of the road. You see no wardens or policemen finign illegaly parked cars near a particular bakery in qormi. But when an old lady came to sell prickly pears in front of the same shop 3 policemen came sprinting down with a flashing car to stop her from her illegal activity. ( and by the way even the polcie on taht day parked on the yellow lines)

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In defence of mediocrity and possibly more? No way! Whatever the Maltese say we are not into Europe yet, not the present PN ministers, especially, who still stride over Malta like a colossus: one step outside Europe-hence this scandal ridden administration with no accountability- and one inside Europe, which still comes with a shock-an imqarret-pastizzi seller cum Nationalist Vice Mayor posing as a lobbyist!

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@ Andre Callus, I am sure your comment does not hold merit. MaltaToday tends to attract the more intelligent, unbiased, informed reader and comments would logically follow that pattern. Of course, without hindering input from all the rest.

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Although bendy buses did not kill any cyclists in London they were unfortunately involved in quite a few accidents in London and York (which has roads similar to Malta's). The fact that injuries to cyclist were not more serious (read fatal) had more to do with cyclist avoiding them (bendies) like the plague. Mainly because they were terrified of them.

Chris Tanthi •

Even the PL itself has realised that bendy buses are a necessary evil: it has promised to remove them only from those areas where their use causes problems.

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the particular problem of ALL modern buses is they are plain too WIDE. we have the same problem with lorries. the regulations merely need to limit maximum widths and many of the problems would reduce. wide vehicles are fine in Berlin thanks to extensive redesign in the 1940s, but not in old-style cities. But what do the rulers care in their limos? not a tinkers.

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I love reading the comments under James's articles. They are always a clear proof that many people in Malta cannot see anything beyond a black or white (blue or red) scheme.

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Finally, someone has had the courage to speak clearly and with reasoned arguments in this whole cacophony of noise. Well done Mr. Debono.

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@REMEsquaddie - the someone (actually a lot of someones) who "made a lot of money on this deal with Arriva" - would have to be the former bus drivers who were paid handsomely for their old buses. A mini bus driven by god know who is not the answer - I can imagine them passing even more people by on the stages if they don't like the look of them, are foreigners etc.

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sheer madness is proposing mini buses (that would be the ultimate social regression at this rate i would expect someone to propose taxis instead of buses)...all you would be doing is increasing number of vehicles on the road and the number of people in queues...it is elementary that the main advantage of public transport (from an environmental perspective) is carrying the greatest number of potential motorists in one vehicle. And with all this maltese exceptionalism am not surprised that the tories are so popular in malta...

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It's the absolute height of sheer madness . Bendy buses in Malta on streets that are designed for Karozzin, and have hair pin bends everywhere are like having a dinosaur for a pet in a one room apartment. Someone made and is making lots of money on this deal with Arriva, and is ignoring reality. What we need here , is many , well driven and safe mini buses, on time and well maintained. Then, you will see a large number of private cars off the road. The last time I was on one of the bendies , at the back, it felt like I was in a Rodeo.

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Franco-articulated buses are used in most cities in europe including most UK towns. Malta is another big city not so different from european cities. We are not special. Private cars are constantly involved in accidents but no body argues that these should be banned. Obviously as consumers we must insist that the bendy buses used are the best available technology. I doubt that this is the case with all the bendy buses used in Malta. The fact that we previously used a pre historic fleet, with many old buses lacked basic safety does not absolve arriva from giving what they promised: a full euro 5 bus fleet. The government must ensure that this condition is fully met. But questioning the concept of bendy buses has nothing to do with this. Removing bendy buses from certain routes will simply result in more queues and is socially regressive...

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The title should have read "In Defense of Bendy-Minds" The bendys were dangerous and you talk about capacity what would be your reaction in case of a serious accident James? Bendys in Malta have already had some very nasty accidents, riding on round abouts, going over center strips, stoppi ng in the middle of the road causing traffic havoc. Get real James you cannot defend the indefensible.

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The use of bendy buses does make sense where passenger volumes are high and the route permits, as for example on the coast road routes where bendy buses ply frequently and in summer are often jam packed. Using smaller buses would mean twice the number of buses which is James' point! Someone must have thought that one out before deploying them !!

Luke Camilleri •

AMMETTI LI KOLLNA AHJAR BIL-BUZOLLOTTI ta'qabel milli bil-PN-tomimi ta' Austin , Manwel Delia , Konsulenti & Co.! ma kontx nobsrok daqshekk laqghiSur james Debono , tidher li int mill clan ta' Peppi u l'Kugin ta' Austin Gatt il-Loki Loo! Hallina u mur orqod!

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Mr. James Debono how pathetic can you be when you ask what is Labour going to say about the bendy buses. It is like same as how asking Labour how they are reducing the Utility tariffs when for sure it has been proofed many times by all concerned that it can be done without any imposition to collect tax from another segment. Please admit you are a total unsighted man, aligned to the PN stalwarts and clearly shows you are part of a PN propaganda machine android.

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My point was not that of defending arriva or the present system. My assessment on that is a mixed one and based on real life experience (conditioned by the fact that i mostly travel mostly within B'Kara/San Gwann/Valletta/Sliema area). On monday a trip at 10 am from san gwann to valletta took me 20 minutes (waiting time included). Usually it takes me 10 to 15 min minutes to travel from msida to san gwann at 7:15 am. On this route buses pass at a greater frequency than the old system. In late September a trip from san gwann to Marsa took me less than 45 minutes (waiting time included) but am aware that some routes remain too long and that congestion results in big delays. In September it took me a full hour (10 min waiting included) on the direct route between B'Kara and Paceville at 9:00 pm. I also experienced a waiting delay when taking a bus from b'kara to sliema at 9 pm on a Wednesday (15 minutes on the stage) with the two bus trip taking just 15 min. In summer trip from B'Kara to Golden Bay took 50 min (15 minutes waiting time included. From B'Kara to Bugibba it took me less than 30 min but i had to walk 10 min to connect to a favourable route without having to go to valletta. There are also cases where buses simply fail to turn up despite being announced on the electronic board. Am also disappointed at the fact that the arriva web site no longer offers the service of finding the best connection between two locations. Am also disappointed that the promised real time information remains defective or non existant. The point of the blog is that bendy buses if deployed well (along suitable routes) can be a useful tool to reduce queues on stages. Ideally these should only be used along arterial routes (with a system of interconnections linking stages along main route to town centers with smaller buses). That said it would still be difficult to avoid critical junctures like Mrabat. Still despite the problems the advantages of carrying 120 people at one go cannot be discounted. My point is that Labour should clarify whether it intends to do a Boris Johnson and say clearly how it intends to change the agreement with arriva to make up for the loss of the bendy buses. Otherwise it is just taking a ride on a populist issue. In the absence of an increase in the number of buses, removing bendy buses from the road would result in more queues on stages. Personally i think that the major problem is that malta lacks a holistic mobility plan with clear objectives on how to reduce congestion (through concrete measures which would make car pooling and use of public transport the norm rather than the exception). This should have accompanied the public transport reform. Unfortunately as in the case of energy policy, we tend to put the cart before the horse.

Micheal Bonanno •

Mr. Debono, sometimes you talk from your lower back. A trip from Qormi to B'Kara Health Centre took me 1hr 45 mins! Besides the large buses clogging our roads, there is also mismanagement of the traffic system! Our local system needs a complete overhaul from the public transport down to the private ones!

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Actually i use buses very frequently...till end of summer on a daily basis, now a bit less (about three/four times a week) as i am walking more as long as the weather permits. Therefore i have used bendy buses quite a number of times. Most of the time these buses were packed with people and are a god sent on stages at peak hours like msida after 5 pm. I noticed that boarding was easier for people carrying bags or with children on buggies. On one particular occasion there was a very annoying noise but on other occasions did not notice anything in particular.

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rajtu l'news il bierah qabel tibda tparla james.

Sammy Cutajar •

Dear James Debono, From what you have written shows your lack of experience re the bendy buses. You are simply writing what comes from your head but with lack of real experience. Try using a bendy bus when it is nearly empty and experience it and then write about it.. Or try using a bendy bus for an hour inside the second part and you shall relish a unique experience that tells you better get out fast. The problem was and still is that the wise Austin decided to do it his own way and disregarded every logical reason. But you won't write that do you? Have you ever used a bendy bus from Bugibba to Valletta? I suggest you do and experience the state of the second art of buses that Boris commented on.

Luke Camilleri •

Ma ghogbolx ic-certifikat li ta' is-Sindku Konservativ ta' Londra lill Dr. Gonzi & Co li hadu RESPONSABILITA KOLLETIVA u wikkewlna L'Arriva? Int veru "F**ken Wanker" , laqghi tal-Ministru Gatt, Sur James Debono! Imisek tissthi tghid li l-Poplu irrid johrog akara sussidji biex jehles mill Bendy buses ! Ghalfejn gabuhom in the first place U MINN FUQ THALLSU ELUF TA' eWROS F'KONSULENZI BIES GABUHOM LILL HBIEB ta' F,W, Gatt? Din bhal tl BWSC , l'ewwel ihallsu 4 milljun Ewro commisson u issa irridu nhallsu aktar biex naqilbu il-Power station ghal gas KIF KIEN PROPOST ORIGINARJAMENT MILL LP! Tkomplix taqa' ghan nejk fit-tentattivi patetici tieghek biex tinghogob mill oligarkija ta' GonziPN ghax qieghed veru tkun Patetiku u mhux kredibli!

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If Boris Johnson's claim to fame is having rid London of bendy buses and if Boris Johnson is touted as the most probable successor to David Cameron after an impending Tory defeat, then, the state of U.K. politics is not much better than in other European countries, including Malta. Either people are using buses more or otherwise there are less buses on the road but every time I am taking a bus, I have to wait for a long time as bus after bus fail to stop because they are full. Bendy buses provide more capacity and there may be a case for more of them on the road.

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Int bis serjeta qed tghid li naqas it-trafic, jew ghandek aptit ticcajta? Dal-ghodu minn Hal-Ghaxaq sa Gwardamangia tlaqt @ 6.25am u wasalt @ 7.10am. Barra min hekk jien hassejtni imbarazzat nara lil Prim Ministru ingliz mifquh bid dahk jisma lis-sindku ta Londra Jonhson jiffanfra kif iddampja il Bendi-buses Malta ghax ma kienux tajbin ghal Londra.

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James, I am sure the Maltese were looking forward to a decent public transport system. The old one had a good network, but rotten hardware and not much managerial control. What was needed was hardware and control, not a completely alien system. Even sadder is the fact that this same Government has given out multiple millions to previous bus owners to buy new or refresh their vehicle. ALL MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN. Yes, smaller vehicles would have made the system agreeable, useful and compatible with Malta's road network. In theory the bigger the better. However in practice this did not work out. It did not in one of the world's leading capitals let alone in Malta's narrow streets designed for horse carts.

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Those who complain are not the regular patrons of the buses. As Progress amply demonstrates, the buses (Bendy Ones) are crowded - and oftentimes packed. So, we want more buses (10 at a time going to the same place)? The motorists will love that. I hope everyone gives it a rest, and instead of complaining - researches alternates which they can then recommend to TM or their MP's. I am quite certain that MP's will listen to people who present a constructive solution rather than complain about something that is obviously filling a need.

Chris Tanthi •

My intelligence sources inform me that Austin Gatt is seriously mulling over the idea of running Boris Johnson over with a bendy-bus. Once arraigned in court, he would plead that he's from Valletta....

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It goes to show for sure you have never been on a bendy bus, Mr. James Debono. We got the scrap yard of London, just ride on a bendy bus when it is full and the noise and juggling by the passengers is something to be desired, pompously but proofed right by the Mayor of London and yet you still insist that bendy buses in Malta is a good choice, considering our roads are so narrow and all full of potholes. Seen many of these bendy buses ending up either in a collision or cannot take the load that stop with a mechanical break up. Trying to convince us? Perhaps Dr.Austin Gatt should note your comment and think twice whom to nominate as his assistant, either you or Manwel Delia, grow up James, you are an illusionist of the PN machine.

Abdullah alhrbi •

You need to crunch other statistics James ,