Cyprus Bus Service to Improve Within Months

Description:

The Cyprus Government is urging the public to participate in a consultation to improve public transport in Cyprus.

 
A questionnaire is available for the public to give their opinion of how to improve and upgrade the public transportation system.
 
Once completed, it can be posted back to the Communications Ministry for free.

 
The questionnaire, named the Green Bible, can be collected for completion at the following locations:-

 
Local post offices

Municipalities

District offices

Citizens Service Centres (KEP)
 

It is hoped that by improving the system, traffic congestion will be eased in the main towns of Cyprus. The first step will be to improve the bus system with the possibility of adding an extra bus lane.
 
There may be future plans to create a tram system or railway. The overall aim is to increase public use of public transport to 10% in the next 10 years. Currently only 1.7% of the public use the transport provided.

 
The upgrade plan is proposed to go ahead on 1^st September this year and is expected to be completed within three years. This will include replacing 1,200 buses over this time and expanding the bus routes from 16 to 30.

 
According to the Cyprus Communications and Works Minister, Nicos Nicolaides, funding from the state is expected to increase to around €50 million a year.

 
Fares are also planned to cost less than €1 within districts, with one ticket covering travel to a destination even if having to change buses to reach it. For travel between towns - i.e. Nicosia to Limassol, Larnaca to Paphos - the fare is expected to be around €3.