Public transport 'an absolute priority' - AD

The Green Party today insisted that in a country inundated with private vehicles, public transport should be given absolute priority.

This week, the public transport operator Arriva removed all bendy buses from service following a number of incidents in which the company's buses caught fire. Due to saftey concerns, Arriva came to an agreement with the government and Transport Malta to temporarily remove the bendy buses which carried 40% of total passangers. 

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Arnold Cassola said: "It is a good thing to take all bendy buses off the road pending investigations into the recent fires. Safety first. It has been said that sabotage is not excluded, but we know that in March 2004 all bendy-buses in London were taken out of service following three separate fires on the vehicles. Let us get to the truth fast."

AD spokesperson for energy, transport and industry Ralph Cassar said: "Public transport should be given its due importance.  It is clear that the present contract was primarily designed for the purpose of reducing Government expenditure in this sector.  In a country inundated with private cars, public transport should be given absolute priority."