GSLP-Liberals-Manifesto-2019

and hybrid vehicles. We will build upon
this in the future. Since 2011 the
GSLP Liberals have sought to explore
the possibilities for deploying electric
buses in Gibraltar. The topography
in Gibraltar has meant that we have
thus far been unable to find the right
solution for Gibraltar in this context.
The GSLP Liberals will revisit the
options available in this regard,
including the possibility of limiting
electric bus use to areas of service
where topography is not an issue,
namely in most areas bar the South
District via Europa Road and the
Upper Town. Given the exacting
specifications our buses must meet,
the challenge will always be finding
a suitable bus to supplement, initially
and then and eventually replace our
very reliable and comfortable MAN
buses.
The smaller buses serving the
Upper Town will also require partial
replacement during the next term and
once again market research is also at a
very advanced stage.
BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS
A local bus service is a crucial part
of any transport plan. Shared mass
transport that is comfortable, regular
and reliable is essential if we are to
persuade users away from their cars.
As bus use increases consideration
needs to be given to service schedule
improvements especially at peak times.
NEW BUS-STOP & BUS MAPS
All of Gibraltar’s bus-stops have been
upgraded with new, modern flagpole
signs providing useful information to
users including the buses direction
of travel. A new modern bus map
clearly shows the interaction between
different bus routes and provides
positional information including the
main tourist sites over a background of
the Rock’s contour.
BUS TRACKER
The Bus Tracker has been one of the
most significant developments in
public transport in the last four years.
Real-time information allows users
to work around the bus timetables
making long waits for the bus a thing
of the past.
SMART BUSES
If re-elected, the GSLP Liberals will
be taking smart bus technology into
the buses and bus stops themselves
providing users with information
regarding the next buses approaching
and their ETA’s.
SCHOOL BUSES
With the creation of the 2 new
comprehensive schools in the same
area, it will be easier to assess what we
need to do to offer the most efficient
bus service, thereby minimising the
need for students to rely on parents
for lifts by private vehicle.
School bus services already exist and
have been introduced by the Ministry
for Transport using our fleet of MAN
buses. These are referred to as X
services or Extra services and operate
from the south and east districts and
also from the Mid-Harbours area to
the schools within the Upper Town.
FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS
We have now agreed the Pay
Agreement between the Gibraltar Bus
Company and Unite the Union. This
will result in improvements to the bus
service which will include an increased
bus manning level, essential to be able
to adapt to the growing needs of our
community. As a direct result, there
will be bus frequency improvements,
especially to the Upper Town Route
1 service. There will also be a further
increased school bus service to
complement the existing school bus
routes and the regular bus routes
which are presently close to saturation
at peak hours. This is a very positive
sign that shows that people are
indeed opting for alternative modes
of transport. As a Government we
must be able to adapt to this change
in order to keep promoting shared
mass transport as an alternative to
the private car and hence bring about
the critical improvements to our
environment.
We will keep monitoring the bus
service closely, adapting to the needs
of the community as the bus service
continues to increase in popularity.
TRANSPORT INSPECTORS
Government has invested in transport
inspectors that form the regulatory
body to keep public transport services
abiding to legislation and therefore
providing an efficient service.
PRIVATE BUSES
A GSLP Liberal Government will
work with the local private bus route
operator and tourist mini-coach
operators to consider how best we
may be able to actively encourage and
support them to upgrade their fleets
to more modern and environmentally
friendly vehicles. Modern route
buses today can cost anything from
£300,000 and £500,000 plus, so it
would be unreasonable to expect
companies to overhaul their fleets
within a very short period of time.
Diligent planning is required to ensure
that we see a greener public transport
and tourist offering within Gibraltar.
To this end, we will engage promptly
with stakeholders to discuss potential
options to see how best to see the
rejuvenation of the current fleets
operating within Gibraltar.
IN RELATION TO PRIVATE
TRANSPORT:
CYCLING GENERALLY
Cycling is the cornerstone of any
modern city’s transport infrastructure.
It impacts positively on traffic, on
health (physical and mental) and is great
for the environment. Even commercial
operations are looking at the bicycle
as an alternative vehicle for deliveries,
especially those last-mile deliveries by
way of cargo bikes and e-cargo bikes.
Indeed, Gibraltar has seen a number of
start-up companies using the bicycle
for their businesses for the first time.
This is most encouraging to see and
reflects the shift to cycling we know
is happening in the community. It is
undeniable.
A NEW COMMITMENT TO CYCLING
AS PART OF GREEN GIBRALTAR
Under a GSLP Liberal Government,
Gibraltar has seen an increase in the
use of bicycles as a form of transport
and we are meeting that development
with a new commitment to promoting
the increased use of cycling in this
way. As the STTPP concluded, cycling
is a real option for travel in Gibraltar
which we are taking seriously. We
54 ...aspire to the best Gibraltar