Cyprus transport engineer: buses lose the time advantage they need over cars

Local public transportTop Newstraffic Cyprus transport engineer: buses lose the time advantage they need over cars Kykloforiako Provlima Lefkosia Relevant News Cyprus tourism overnight stays fall 7.7% as EU market grows 7 September 2026 Cyprus transport engineer: buses lose the time advantage they need over cars 7 September 2026 The September 1955 pogrom and Archbishop Makarios III’s response 7 September 2026 Andreas Athanasiou 7 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Petrol prices have been rising in recent months, diesel even more so, and international developments leave open the possibility of further increases ahead. From 2028, additional rises are expected as Cyprus aligns with EU requirements on renewable energy and sustainable fuels, with estimates presented to Parliament pointing to an increase of around 2.5 cents per litre on petrol and 7 cents on diesel. Dr Paraskevas Nikolaou, a transport engineer and lecturer at the Cyprus University of Technology’s Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics Engineering, rejected the idea that today’s car dependency in Cyprus comes down to “the mentality of the Cypriot,” telling philenews: “Culture, I believe, is an excuse.” He said the problem lies mainly in the choices made over the years in transport planning, and in the alternatives that were, in the end, given or not given, to the public. For many people, the problem does not stop at fuel prices. The car remains necessary for most daily journeys, whether for work, children or other obligations, while conditions on the roads remain unchanged: queues, delays and congestion, mainly in Nicosia and Limassol, and it is still only the first days of September. Traffic is expected to increase further once schools and universities reopen and, as Nikolaou put it, “every rascal returns to his workbench,” leaving drivers facing the same daily strain. For years, Nikolaou said, our cities and roads were designed mainly around the car. Every time traffic increased, the answer was usually new roads and more lanes, while other forms of transport were left behind. “The planning we have and the strategy we have are more oriented towards the car,” he said. He stressed that people first need to be given the alternatives, and only then can a change in habits be asked of them. He explained that the example from abroad is characteristic: the same Cypriot who here finds it hard to part with their car, in a European city where the network functions properly, uses the bus, metro or tram without a second thought. Four problem areas Nikolaou identified four points that, he said, need to improve to make the bus more attractive: information, journey time, the connection of routes, and the quality of service. He raised passenger information first. “Two years ago we installed smart bus stops, which were supposed to provide real-time information. This, however, does not happen. When information is given, it is fragmentary,” he said. He explained that people need to know when the bus is coming and whether there is a delay. According to Nikolaou, efforts have been made to include routes in apps such as Google Maps, but the information still does not work fully in real time. The technology already exists, he said, since buses have telematics and can transmit their position at regular intervals, even every 30 seconds. “Telematics should be integrated into the information given to the public, so that people know what time the bus arrives at the stop,” he added. Stuck in the same queue A bigger problem is journey time. When the bus travels in the same congestion as cars and has no lane of its own, it loses the advantage it should have over the private car. Added to this are the walk to the stop, the wait and, in several cases, route changes. As Nikolaou told philenews, if a journey takes an hour by car but two or three by bus, people are unlikely to choose it. He placed particular emphasis on bus lanes, noting that they can give the bus the time advantage it often lacks today. Otherwise, he said, the bus ends up waiting in the same queue as everyone else. Routes need to connect Another issue, according to Nikolaou, is coordination across the network. Someone might arrive in Nicosia by intercity bus, for example, and from there need a local bus to get to work. If the timetables do not line up, however, an otherwise good connection loses much of its usefulness. Nikolaou argued that more island-wide planning is needed, and less fragmented, district-by-district treatment. Comfort matters too The fourth point concerns the quality of service. Nikolaou acknowledged that incidents have occasionally been recorded involving buses that “were not in the best condition,” clarifying, however, that these are a minority. Such images, though, stick with people and affect the overall perception of public transport. Comfort, cleanliness and reliability all play a role, he said, particularly when someone is being asked to change the way they travel every day. More roads, but… For decades, the answer to rising traffic and congestion was new roads or more lanes. Nikolaou argued that this approach does not provide a lasting solution, pointing to the phenomenon of induced traffic. “A new lane may bring some relief at first, but as travel becomes easier, more drivers choose that particular road and congestion returns. The more capacity increases, the more the desire to travel increases too,” he said. Don’t abandon plans after the first backlash On micromobility, and specifically the reactions caused in Limassol by separator bollards, Nikolaou said it is to be expected that any change to public space provokes reactions. That, he said, does not mean planning should be abandoned at the first complaint. He added that such interventions should follow proper study and consultation and, once judged to work, should be supported in practice. In his view, proper study and consultation should come first, and once a solution is judged to be functional, the state should support it. The bollards, he said, are not placed at random, but to separate car traffic from more vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. In countries with a more developed cycling culture, he added, such physical barriers may not always be necessary. In Cyprus, however, where the driver often considers themselves to have the first say on the road, cyclists need clearer separation. Subsidise travel, not just fuel Nikolaou also raised another point. Whenever fuel prices rise, he said, the discussion tends to focus mainly on tax cuts and support measures. In his view, however, greater emphasis could also be placed on public transport, so that people have a real alternative. “Perhaps we should also look at incentives, even free bus tickets, so that we can get ahead,” he said. He was clear, however, that this alone is not enough. “Even lower prices may not be enough to turn someone towards a problematic public transport network,” he said. As he explained, if the bus is late and does not serve people properly, people will struggle to choose it, no matter how cheap the ticket is. “Transport justice” He also referred to “transport justice.” As he explained, rises in fuel prices do not affect everyone in the same way. For someone on a low wage, a student, or a family that needs two cars for its daily needs, the cost of travel can become particularly heavy. At the same time, there are people who cannot rely on a car at all, either because they cannot afford one or because they are unable to drive. This category includes the elderly, people with mobility difficulties, students and citizens on lower incomes. For them, Nikolaou said, public transport is not simply a cheaper or “greener” choice, but a basic way to get to work, to their studies, to the doctor or to a public service. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus tourism overnight stays fall 7.7% as EU market grows The September 1955 pogrom and Archbishop Makarios III’s response Illegal feeding stations put Cyprus mouflon and hares at risk Motorcyclist, 24, in extremely critical condition after serious crash First non-diplomat named US ambassador to Cyprus arrives on island Girl, 10, hurt by battery thrown at APOEL-AEL match 39 degree peak and clear skies Monday Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.