Traffic jams have become part of everyday life in Cyprus. They waste time, irritate drivers and harm the country's economy and environment. To change the situation, a deputy from the DISY party
Fotini Tsiridou developed and submitted for discussion to the transport committee of parliament a bill of five measures that will help relieve congestion on the roads.
1)
Traffic control centers
A key element of the new program is the creation of traffic control centers in each region, which will monitor the traffic situation in real time. They will be subordinate to the Ministry of Transport. The centers will regulate traffic flows, coordinate the operation of traffic lights, control dedicated bus lanes, manage traffic during accidents and coordinate the evacuation of cars that impede the passage of traffic.
The idea is for the roads to work as a single system, rather than chaotically. These centers should become the “dispatching brain” of the road network in each city, ensuring rational distribution of transport. World practice shows that the introduction of such centers can reduce delays by 10-30% without building new road infrastructure. This is more profitable than traditional road widening.
2)
Dedicated lanes and “free flow zones”
To allow buses and cars with three or more passengers to travel faster, the network of dedicated lanes will be expanded. One of the main causes of traffic jams in Cypriot cities is chaotic stops and parking in traffic lanes. To eliminate the problem, it is proposed to introduce “free flow zones”, where from 7 am to 7 pm it will be impossible to stop or park. If the driver violates the ban, the car will be towed in just 10 minutes. In this case, the car owner will not have to pay for towing.
3)
Special safety zones near schools
The reason for some of the congestion in the morning and afternoon on the roads near schools is the delivery of children to school. To ease road congestion and ensure the safety of children, zones with a radius of up to 200 meters will be allocated around schools. During the hours when children arrive or leave educational institutions, access to schools will be limited to
school buses, parents of area residents, emergency vehicles.
The police and municipalities will enforce the rules.
4) Flexible work schedule and remote employment
To reduce the number of cars on the roads during peak hours, different work schedules should be introduced for public services, divided into three time zones (07:00-15:00, 08:00-16:00, 09:00-17:00). Private companies with more than 50 employees will also be required to develop a mobility plan: implement either different time schedules or remote work at least one day a week for 20% of the staff. This should reduce the number of people on the roads at the same time.
5) Road repairs - not during rush hours
It is necessary to introduce a ban on road and construction work that restricts traffic or narrows the roadway during rush hours - from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00. Major work must be carried out at night and on weekends. If construction companies do not comply with this rule, the authorities may suspend their payments. Each hour of road work during peak hours costs the city significantly more than the contractor's nightly rate.
Online platform for data analysis
The MP proposes to launch a digital platform dedicated to the Cyprus traffic system. It will become a database for analysis, independent control and decision-making based on facts, not complaints. Information about travel times, traffic jams, emissions and
violations of the rules will help the government, municipal authorities, researchers and private businesses to make timely changes to the operation of the Cyprus transport system.
Goals that can be achieved if five measures are introduced:
reduction in travel time during peak hours by
20%
increase in the use of public transport - by
25%
reduction in the number of violations of the parking law - by
50%
The problem of traffic jams today is of a social and economic nature. A comprehensive, realistic and fair approach is required that does not shift the burden onto the people of Cyprus. This proposal is aimed at changing the mentality in the approach to moving around the country and improving our quality of life.
Fotini TSIRIDO, author of the bill
