The life and times of Malta Public Transport
With the announcement that Malta has applied for funds to build a monorail – something that I have said they should build since about two weeks of being here – I thought it was time to publish some adventures in Malta Public Transport.
The roads in Malta were clearly not made for buses, and much like the Incarnations of Immortality and its simile about people and travel, Malta drivers have no concept of what it takes to move a bus through the quiet, serpentine streets while avoiding hitting anything. Some of the best driving I have ever been a part of has been over three months that I have taken Malta Public Transport.
While the drivers don’t necessarily make the system any better (and there are plenty of stories about drivers being brought to, and bringing others to, the brink), many of them have skills that the rest of us could only dream of when it comes to maneuvering a large vehicle through a tiny space. A rich man may have a hard time getting into heaven, but I bet some of these Maltese bus drivers could drive a camel through the eye of a needle. Of course they aren’t miracle workers…
Bus Stuck
Heading home from somewhere, I had to pass through Mater Dei and the University. We came around the corner and headed for the left hand turn that would take us down toward the University of Malta. The bus driver makes the turn and comes to a dead stop. In front of him was a maroon Toyota Turcel that had decided to park in a no parking zone – the zone was created to allow the buses room to make the turn.
The bus was stuck. If it went forward, it would hit the car, and if it went backward, it would hit the wall. I have a feeling that in America, some of us would have gotten out and rocked the car onto its side and out of the way. The Maltese complained. The bus driver called someone, and some riders left the bus to catch another at the next bus stop. When the driver finally came out, a half hour had passed. Those who had left the bus were waiting for us when we got to the stop.
Read "Bus Luck"
The roads in Malta were clearly not made for buses, and much like the Incarnations of Immortality and its simile about people and travel, Malta drivers have no concept of what it takes to move a bus through the quiet, serpentine streets while avoiding hitting anything. Some of the best driving I have ever been a part of has been over three months that I have taken Malta Public Transport.
While the drivers don’t necessarily make the system any better (and there are plenty of stories about drivers being brought to, and bringing others to, the brink), many of them have skills that the rest of us could only dream of when it comes to maneuvering a large vehicle through a tiny space. A rich man may have a hard time getting into heaven, but I bet some of these Maltese bus drivers could drive a camel through the eye of a needle. Of course they aren’t miracle workers…
Bus Stuck
Heading home from somewhere, I had to pass through Mater Dei and the University. We came around the corner and headed for the left hand turn that would take us down toward the University of Malta. The bus driver makes the turn and comes to a dead stop. In front of him was a maroon Toyota Turcel that had decided to park in a no parking zone – the zone was created to allow the buses room to make the turn.
The bus was stuck. If it went forward, it would hit the car, and if it went backward, it would hit the wall. I have a feeling that in America, some of us would have gotten out and rocked the car onto its side and out of the way. The Maltese complained. The bus driver called someone, and some riders left the bus to catch another at the next bus stop. When the driver finally came out, a half hour had passed. Those who had left the bus were waiting for us when we got to the stop.
Read "Bus Luck"