A proposal – study for the transport of up to 1,000 students daily to and from their afternoon extracurricular activities was submitted to the Ministry of Transport by the Limassol Passenger Transport Company (EMEL), aspiring to contribute both to the service of families and to the decongestion of the road network of Limassol.
Speaking to "F", the CEO of EMEL, Giorgos Kyriakou, said that the study was submitted in the first week of June and is already under evaluation by the Ministry.
"In the proposal we describe how we can transport up to 1,000 students each afternoon to their extracurricular activities, while also presenting the cost of implementing the service," he said.
According to him, this is a comprehensive and multidimensional study, which does not concern only one school year, but examines the long-term implementation of the program.
EMEL believes that the implementation of the plan can contribute substantially to addressing the traffic problem of Limassol.
"We believe that we can achieve the removal of up to 1,000 cars from the road network of Limassol during the afternoon hours, when the city is facing particularly intense traffic congestion. If the state agrees with our proposal, we can make a substantial contribution to traffic management," he noted.
Mr. Kyriakou clarified that EMEL does not propose as a condition the full coverage of the cost by the state. "Whether the service will be free is a matter for the state to decide. We are not suggesting that in order for the program to succeed, 100% of the cost must be subsidized. We do not believe that if parents pay a small fee, this will be a deterrent factor."
As he explained, even today parents are significantly burdened, not only with fuel and other operating costs, but also with valuable time for their children's daily commutes. "Families will save time and other operating costs, so even a small financial contribution can be to their advantage," he said.
Flexible AI-Assisted Pickup Model
Regarding the way the program works, the CEO of EMEL explained that the current model of WeeDrive is based on door-to-door pickup. However, in the event of a significant increase in participations, the system will be able to adapt dynamically.
As he said, through artificial intelligence algorithms, the optimal routes will be calculated, so that, where required, two or more students living nearby will be served by a common boarding point, just a few meters from their residence. "Our priority is to respect the predetermined timetables. Instead of excluding a student because it is not possible to serve them through their door, we prefer to give them the option of a nearby boarding point," he explained.
Mr. Kyriacou described the traffic as a "huge problem" for Limassol, stressing that the solution does not lie in the creation of new roads, but in the implementation of alternative transportation practices and integrated planning.
As he mentioned, it is wrong to examine the problem only by road or by district, as a detailed analysis of movements, starting and destination points, but also of the different categories of road users is required.
At the same time, he stressed that public transport must be accompanied by the necessary infrastructure, such as bus lanes, park and ride areas, modern boarding stations and reliable passenger information, in order to be a real alternative for citizens. "The traffic problem is not solved overnight. But a serious effort must begin. What we are doing today is moving in circles without a substantial result," he said.
