Move Back Please!

Maltese Buses

‘Mooooove back please!’ is a phrase that I probably hear every single day. If you’re used to finding a comfortable seat on a bus, without someone standing on your toes or falling into you, then please get ready for the Maltese public transport service.

The bus service is on the only public transport means around Malta, a little disappointing as this puts a lot of pressure onto the service.

According to previous students from LJMU, the bus services weren’t quite what they are now. Imagine rickety old buses without air-conditioning and a heap-load of people wanting to simply get home from work. Now that to me sounds stressful.

But, Malta has recently seen funding for its public transport services that sees bigger buses that now feature air-conditioning. (Hallelujah)

However, the buses can be flaky and you’re very lucky if you can get a seat.

The busiest services seem to be those heading to Valletta, where I am assuming a lot of commuters live.

Working an 8-5 job means that I am often hit with the busiest commuting times.

It’s a bit of a pain and the bus service is sometimes too much after a long day at work, with many of the commuters already in a sour mood.

Bus ticket prices vary throughout the year, with a single journey including transfer costing €1.50 during the winter months (November-May) and €2.00 during the summer months (June-October).

However, if one purchases a bus card, then this cost is a lot cheaper.

I myself, did not think I would be using the buses as often as I have done, meaning that I am constantly having to scrape for change on a morning for a bus. So, I decided to purchase a bus card. I probably should have done this earlier, as it was advertised to me before my arrival, however I did not think that one would be entirely necessary.

However, the cost of a single journey decreases to €0.70 and the more that you spend, the more you save. The scheme works that the card only allows you to spend €26 a month on travel, any other travelling you do via bus during the month that exceeds the limit, is then completely free of charge! This is a great scheme that gets people to use public transport instead of a car, or other carbon emitting vehicles.

In regard to the service themselves, I myself have experienced many occasions where buses simply have not turned up. Take last weekend for example, when we visited Golden Bay. Our bus was due to arrive at 18:30, but it did not show up until 19:15. Luckily, we were not in a rush to get home, but had this been an occasion where we had to be somewhere at a specific time, then this would have caused major problems.

In addition to this, the bus services operate quite differently to the UK in that there is no ‘night’ service as such. Back in Liverpool, the bus services are pretty much 24 hours, meaning that one does not have to pay for a taxi in order to get home. However, in Malta, you have to cut your night short by ensuring that you make the last bus service, usually at 22:30. This service is normally packed full.

If for instance, I was to visit St George’s Bay in St Julian’s, we have to leave in the evening at 21:30, to ensure we can get the bus back to Msida and then the bus back onto Birkirkara. Otherwise, we would be looking at taxi prices of around €5 each.

Therefore, here are some tips if you decide to travel by bus in Malta:

• Do not expect all the buses to be on time

• Do not expect to find a seat on every journey

• Always set off ten minutes earlier than you think you need to

• Purchase a bus card before your arrival in Malta

• Some people do not understand the concept of a queue, so sometimes you have to fight your way onto the bus. It’s every man for himself over here!

• Be courteous to other travellers, the heat is enough to drive anyone insane

• And, be safe when alighting and departing