One year on: Park and Ride is great but it can’t work alone

On the day all schools were back in operation this week – Monday – I rode on Nicosia’s Park and Ride bus service one year after it launched operations between the GSP stadium and central Nicosia.

How well does the free service, aimed at reducing traffic congestion at the entrance to Nicosia by encouraging commuters to ditch their cars, work on a typically chaotic morning?

I arrived at GSP at 8.01am just as the bus was setting off; my timing was perfect. I was heading for Limassol avenue, a busy stretch of road for those heading into the city.

As we glided smoothly through the congestion in the dedicated bus lane, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. By 8.12 I was at my stop opposite the office, a journey that would normally take over 30 minutes by car. But I had arrived in just over 10! So far so impressed.

The contrast between the bus experience and my usual car commute was stark. As we bypassed long queues of cars creeping from the highway towards the city, I felt a little smug – a rare case of enjoying the sight of others stuck in traffic. The bus darted through the main roundabout, avoiding the heavy congestion, which was a huge bonus.

The bus was clean and well-maintained, and mostly filled with fellow workers. The service was straightforward: no need to hunt for parking at GSP and finding from where the bus left was easy thanks to clear signs.

The seamless operation felt more like something you would expect in London rather than Cyprus.

However, while the service is indeed a game-changer, it is still limited. For those living further out, or even in other cities like Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, the challenge remains: how to get to GSP stadium in the first place. I still had to drive there, which somewhat defeats the purpose of leaving my car behind.

So what is the future of the Park and Ride service? There’s no doubt it’s a fantastic step in the right direction, but it’s clear that it cannot solve all of Cyprus’ public transport issues. Expansion is needed, and calls for this have been growing.

Business development manager at Cyprus Public Transport (CPT), which operates the service, Alexander Kamberos confirmed that expansion is indeed being considered.

“At some point, it will be expanded,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “But we must remember that other bus routes already reach GSP from nearby areas and villages, so the service is quite integrated.”

One of the busiest routes into Nicosia leaves the Alambra bus terminal and stops at GSP before heading into the city. “Those buses are almost always full,” he said.

There’s also talk of extending the Park and Ride route beyond its current stops on Limassol and Makarios avenues.

“We are studying every possible solution,” Kamberos said, “but any changes need approval from the transport ministry.”

The major obstacle, however, lies in something seemingly more mundane but still critical, namely a lack of bus drivers.

Kamberos explained that finding new drivers has become increasingly difficult, largely due to employment laws that prevent hiring from third countries.

“We can only advertise positions within the EU, which puts us at a disadvantage compared to countries like Malta, where third-country nationals can be hired.

“This issue could hinder the service’s expansion,” he said.

Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades acknowledged this problem, saying the shortage of bus drivers is indeed a concern.

“We are planning to address it in a meeting with labour unions,” he told the Cyprus Mail, implying that easing restrictions on hiring third-country nationals could be on the table.

While the immediate focus is on staffing, the future of the Park and Ride service itself is under discussion.

There are no plans to charge for parking at GSP, but the free bus service might not remain free indefinitely.

“We intend to keep it free for Motion card holders, but charge a fee of €2.40 for other users,” Kamberos said, with Vafeades adding that the goal is to make the service affordable, not necessarily free forever.

The minister also responded to criticism over its operational expenses by stressing instead the multiple benefits it provides.

“In major cities, congestion costs are estimated at €900 per person, without factoring in pollution and the inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists alike,” Vafeades said.

“The Park and Ride service is a pilot project, a successful one, aimed at demonstrating the viability of bus services and fostering a shift in public transportation culture.”

Another promising development is the introduction of a dedicated bus lane for the return journey from Nicosia to GSP stadium.

Kamberos assured that this is a top priority, as it would cut travel times even further, but Vafeades cautioned that it “might not happen in the near future.”

Despite all the challenges, the Park and Ride has already proven to be a valuable addition to Nicosia’s transport network.

The dedicated lanes and efficient service are steps towards a modern, reliable public transport system. However, for it to truly change commuting habits, it needs to reach more people and be part of a broader, more comprehensive network.

As someone who tried it on one of the busiest days of the year, I can say that it works —at least for those near the GSP stadium.

But to see a real shift in how people travel, the need is for more than just one well-functioning service. Only then can we really begin to ease the traffic burden on our capital and offer a real alternative to the daily grind of driving around Cyprus.