THE AUDIT OFFICE WARNS - THE BUS LOST THE GAME AND IN THE COST OF TRANSPORT REVEALS AN INVESTIGATION - Filenews 14/10 by Vassos Vassiliou
Public transport is losing the battle with private vehicles in the movement of citizens and it is characteristic that 63% of the respondents stated that they would not board a bus again. However, perhaps the worst thing is that even where transportation by bus costs less, the private vehicle has other positives which outweigh any negatives of the private vehicle.
The above results from an investigation of 110 members of the Audit Office who boarded buses in Nicosia between 10.11.2025-1.12.2025.
Especially for the cost of traveling by buses, it is recorded that for the transition from Latsia to the Citizen Service Center in Engomi, the total cost amounts to about 4.80 euros and the same amount for return. That is, the citizen pays €9.60 but, as stated in the Report, "taking into account the time required to complete such a route, compared to the use of a private vehicle, the benefits of using the bus are called into question".
It is further stated that "the picture is not self-evident, that is, that the use of a bus in relation to the use of a car is economically advantageous".
Regarding the reluctance of 63% of respondents to use a bus again, it is stated that this "is mainly due to the inevitable comparison with a means (car) that most of the time saves time, provides privacy and more comfort".
The audit aimed to determine whether passenger transport in Nicosia is cost- and quality-efficient. The audited body was the Ministry of Transport.
Among the vulnerabilities of the system, the Auditor General, Mr. Andreas Papaconstantinou, records the following:
- Nevertheless, 63% of the participants stated that they would not choose to use a bus again mainly due to the inevitable comparison with a means of transport (car) that most of the time saves time, provides privacy and more comfort.
- Specific cases were recorded in which the actual stopping position was approximately 85 and 135 meters away from the position displayed in the application and on the website of the city bus company.
- In other cases, stops that had been abolished appeared, while during the diversion of routes due to road works there was no updated information. In two cases, participants waited about half an hour and then had to walk for another half an hour to get to another stop.
- In 55% of the stops there was no information about the routes, while only in 13% there were telematic information systems. At the same time, 22% of the stops had neither a seat nor a canopy, while 32% did not have a canopy.
- In several cases, the bus route numbers of the contract with the previous contractor were indicated at the stops, which are not consistent with the route numbers of the contract with the new contractor.
- The majority of participants (56%) stated that it took more than 10 minutes of walking, and a significant proportion (36%) reported walking time between 5 and 10 minutes, indicating a moderate level of accessibility of the bus network. The high rate of commutes of more than 10 minutes may act as a deterrent, especially for people with reduced mobility, the elderly or users under time pressure.
- The analysis of the data showed that in cases where the completion of the mission required the use of two buses, 47% of the participants rated the time required as unsatisfactory, while only 25% described it as satisfactory.
- Cases of incorrect schedules, inaccurate geographical mapping of stops and inconsistencies between different sources of information were observed. At the same time, on several lines the frequency was low (every one or two hours), while the need to transfer (use of two buses) in some cases increased the time and cost of travel.
- The information provided by the "route planner" of the website is incorrect, and moreover is not consistent with the information provided through the application (Pame). For example, for the transition from Zakynthou Street in the Municipal District of Aglantzia to Esperidon Street in the Municipality of Nicosia, the passenger is informed that the bus passes through Larnakos Avenue (stop no. 684: Larnakos – Athalossis Avenue) at 08:37, while according to the itinerary schedule, the bus passes through the said stop at 07:40, and the next bus at 10:37.
- In several cases, in the new stops that were installed, there was no information posted about the name and number of the stop, the routes, and the arrival/departure times of the buses.
As regards the behaviour of the drivers, although generally considered satisfactory, there was a case of unwillingness to help a mother with a stroller when boarding the bus. In addition, incidents of non-compliance with basic service obligations were recorded, such as non-delivery of a ticket to passengers and failure to stop to disembark from the bus, following a passenger notification.
Ten Transportation Cost Scenarios Private vs. Bus
The Report examines ten scenarios for the use of a private vehicle in relation to the use of a bus.
The seventh scenario concerns the use of a petrol vehicle by one person or when two people are in the vehicle and the vehicle travels 7 kilometres.
The Report records that when only the driver is in the vehicle and the compensation paid by the government to civil servants who use their vehicle (for public work) is taken into account, the cost is €2.59. If there is a second person in the same vehicle, then the cost is reduced to €1.29 per person.
The same route with a bus ticket costs €2.70, which is the same as the bus ticket.
The Report records that "the analysis of ten indicative scenarios demonstrates that the use of a bus does not necessarily entail substantial financial savings for a citizen who already owns a private vehicle". It is added that depending on the frequency of use, the number of passengers, the distance and the type of vehicle, sometimes the bus and sometimes the private vehicle presents a lower additional cost per person.
The Auditor General also observes that even where the bus is more economical, the difference in some scenarios is limited.
It is noted that the Ministry of Transport, commenting on the findings of the Audit Service, indicates that the cost must also include the cost of purchasing a private vehicle and other parameters that increase the cost. On the other hand, the Auditor General, taking into account that almost everyone already owns a private vehicle (so they will not buy a car), considers that the acquisition of a new vehicle should not be taken into account in the cost comparison, but the question "how much will it cost the citizen if he leaves the car at home to use the bus" must be answered?.
