LIMASSOL MUNICIPALITY AND EMEL ENHANCE THE FREE PARK AND RIDE SERVICE

 Filenews 7 October 2020

With a new route, almost twice as many routes and two more buses are enhanced the free Park and Ride service, as part of the circular route in the center of Limassol launched on September 16th by the Limassol Municipality and the Limassol Passenger Transport Company (EMEL).\

The Municipality's effort, Mayor Nikos Nikolaidis told a press conference, is to inform the public about the new service, which offers him the opportunity to park his car free of charge in the parking lot near the new stop "Park and Ride" (Municipal Piece "Epameinda", west of North Epirus Street) and to go to and from the city center free of charge by bus.

"It may be a small step but it can be a big leap for public transport," noted Mr. Nikolaidis, who suggested that "these kinds of programs that have to do with changing mentalities, take time and repetition and broad alliances before they can take off."

Convinced that this is the most appropriate time to promote the Park and Ride service, which has been attempted in other cities before, the Mayor of Limassol said that citizens should understand the benefits on offer, as without cost and without hassle to find parking, they can go to the city centre.

He expressed the hope that soon and if the public embraces the service, there will also be an extension of the hours, which will serve the students of the TEPAK during their night classes, but also the citizens who want to spend the evening in the center of the city.

"The most important and decisive thing is to complete the Park and Ride ring around the city centre with two more car parks," he continued, saying that "this is an opportunity that the city must not miss."

Finally, he thanked the Minister of Transport for the recent decision, the routes for all to be made free of charge, as an incentive for the use of "Park and Ride"

Asked if the public's response is satisfactory so far, limassol mayor said that "we do not expect full buses from the beginning but we will see them, since a lot of people still do not know", while noting that, to this end, relevant information form material has been prepared.

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of EMEL, Giorgos Kyriakou, said that the service is now being strengthened with two more buses (5 and 7), which together with bus 32 will run two circular routes, with a total of 41 routes, in the center of the city.

"One makes a longer cycle that includes the old port and is number 32 and there are supporting routes with modification of urban routes 5 and 7 that will make a narrower circle," he said, adding that bus frequencies, especially at peak times, are very satisfactory.

May it be embraced by the citizens as soon as possible and the EMEL has the means to adjust the timetables to satisfy the passenger traffic that will exist, he added.

Mr. Kyriakou said that within days a part of the rapid service of the students of the TEPAK who have been staying in the new student residences of the Archdiocese, in the area of Tsireio, will be integrated into the route.

It is recalled that the circular route service is open Monday to Friday, and according to the form issued, the journey times start from 06:05 and reach until 19:35.

Source: eyenews/CYPE