Unused bus stops spark anger among residents

MaltaToday has been informed that a number of bus stops installed by Arriva are not being used while wardens are grasping the opportunity and slapping fines on cars belonging to residents after constant calls by the said residents to the relevant authorities to take a stand on the matter.

A case in point is the bus stop in St Paul Street, Naxxar which has occupied the spaces of at least six cars.

Another unused bus stop can be seen next to the skatepark in Msida - on the left-hand side when coming from the St Julian's direction.

Late last year, complaints to the local council were passed on to the Malta Transport Authority but to no avail.

Some residents also received feedback by means of SMS with a reference number of the case from the said council, that the reports had been sent to the Authority, and that they were being dealt with.

Two months down the line, and as yet nothing has been done.

"Parking in the area is already scarce and since the bus stop was installed, parking slots have evidently decreased," a resident told this newspaper.

"And to add insult to injury, the bus stop has never been used and wardens visiting the area are well aware of the situation but state that they are following orders," the resident added.

"I have witnessed people waiting for hours on end at the bus stop in St Paul Street. When I come across these people I cannot bear to see them wait for nothing and on telling them that no buses will ever turn up, and that they were simply wasting their time, they become livid," another resident said."

The Naxxar local council is informed on the situation but residents are now being told that they should report the case to the Transport Authority directly or to Arriva.

But residents insist that their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

Due to the huge public dissatisfaction with the new service, there have been major changes to the system resulting in new commissioned bus stops being left unused.

And while on the subject, certain bus stops - like the ones installed at the top of Iklin Valley, limits of Naxxar - haven't got shelters and many a time commuters can be seen braving the sun and rain: it's ironic that many bus stops in certain areas have more than two bus shelters, while some have nothing at all.