We have always been great supporters of public transport, wherever we have lived, but what on earth is going on with the buses in Malta?
Though they have started to introduce a few newer buses most of them were built in the fifties. Now you must understand we have a fine appreciation for some of the wonderful old classic cars that were built in the fifties that have been loving restored and cared for. This is not the case however with the buses in Malta, the interior of the buses are way past needing repair. The seats are so uncomfortable with chucks missing and rust truly set in. You don’t even want to get us started on the suspension, or should we say lack of it.
Every time we get on one of these nightmare means of transport we hear the English visitors moaning every time we go over one of the many potholes in the road. Heaven forbid if you have had a hip replacement and if you are pregnant do not even get on one of these old buses unless you are looking for a early delivery. We do not exaggerate, they really are that bad. What makes it worse is that the really old dilapidated buses are the ones they use for the longest journeys and into the heart of Malta where the roads are even worse!
Yet you still hear the odd crazy British person saying they are an institution and that they are nice to see. Nice to see yes, to ride- you have got to be out of your mind and as long as you have the odd person making comments like this the rest of the population and visitors will continue to be ignored. It is with no great wonder why Malta has the most cars per population in the world.