Pafos Live 14 December 2025
By Dr. Paraskevas Nikolaou(*)
The history of the traffic problem in Cyprus begins with the first appearance of the car on the island, at the beginning of the 20th century. The newspapers of the time record the surprise of the residents in front of the "horseless machine", but also the first concerns about the organization of traffic and safety on the roads. No one could have imagined then that this innovation would develop into one of the biggest headaches of Cypriot everyday life and would mark the beginning of a problem that today seems intractable.
A century later, the questions remain almost the same: how do we organize our travel efficiently, what strategy do we follow and why the solution is constantly being postponed to the future. The concept of the "traffic problem" has appeared systematically in the Cypriot press since the early 1970s. From very early on, discussions about tackling the problem revolve around the same recipe: new roads, more lanes, widening. This practice may offer temporary solutions, but it is not a long-term strategy. The logic that the problem can be solved with more road dominates over time. But, as international mobility studies demonstrate, this method simply postpones the problem, it does not solve it: new roads fill up quickly, car use increases and congestion returns more severe.
Traffic has been a timeless and always topical problem for Cypriot society and state for at least 50 years. And while other countries that had since presented a much more intense problem managed to deal with it, investing in vision and public transport, so that today they are international models of sustainable mobility and an example to follow, Cyprus, without a strategy and insisting on the same solutions, ended up as an example to be avoided. Despite many studies and suggestions to address it, the situation remains almost unchanged. What is the wrong thing after all? Are the solutions being implemented not enough or are they moving in the wrong direction? The only thing that is certain is that large sums of money have been and continue to be spent on projects and studies to deal with the problem, without substantial results.
In Cyprus, the traffic problem is often attributed to the "mentality". The driving culture, the lack of respect for pedestrians, the occupation of disabled seats, the use of the emergency lane to overtake: everything is a reality. Culture is indeed part of the problem, but not its root cause. It cannot be used as an alibi for the absence of a coherent policy.
Effectively dealing with traffic goes through drastically reducing dependence on the private car. This means measures that discourage its use, such as a congestion fee to enter city centers and restricting parking spaces. Such policies have been successfully implemented in many European countries. However, in order for them to function effectively in Cyprus, we first need to provide reliable, functional and attractive public transport systems, similar to what we see in European cities.
In Cyprus, citizens do not trust public transport, and while the authorities are looking for answers, the main problems are already known and recorded: low frequency, long journey times, inconsistency and delays, limited coverage of areas. And yet, instead of addressing these obvious issues, we often turn to "big solutions" such as the tram or the railway, without any prior substantial improvement of the existing system. These solutions may improve the situation, but they are not a panacea in themselves. In order for them to function, the specificities of Cypriot cities must be taken into account: low population densities, urban diffusion and the absence of a clear urban centre – elements to which urban development in recent decades has also contributed.
The tram and rail are often touted as iconic solutions because their dedicated line ensures uninterrupted movement and shorter journey times. However, a similar effect can be achieved at a much lower cost through an integrated bus lane network. The dedicated lane allows buses to move out of congestion, significantly reducing travel time and enhancing the attractiveness of the medium.
Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) are an important tool for dealing with traffic, but the proposed measures are implemented piecemeal, condemning them to their potentially unsuccessful outcome. Significant funds are thus spent on studies that end up in drawers, until their "update" is requested at a new cost. When an application is attempted, their cancellation or their differentiation after the first wave of reactions of a portion of the citizens is immediately discussed. SUMPs need specific timetables and a prioritization of actions, so that the state knows what is being implemented and when.
Traffic in Cyprus has been known for decades. Unfortunately, despite the studies and findings, we continue to invest in the same solutions, expecting a different result. Real change will only come if we radically change the mobility model: if we seriously support public transport, implement policies that discourage the use of cars and implement sustainable mobility plans comprehensively, without hesitation and postponements. The crucial question is simple: Will we continue to pursue the problem by building the next road or will we dare to design a new, different Cyprus in transportation?
Lecturer – Transportation Engineer
Department of Civil Engineering and Geoinformatics Engineering
Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
