A recent opinion piece has reignited debate over Cyprus’s transport future, focusing on Limassol where authorities are examining more than 30 possible solutions. The discussion includes a tram line and even talk of an elevated railway, with estimates pointing to an investment of hundreds of millions of euros. The author, Dina‑Perla Poortnar, opens with a personal statement: "I don’t want to own a car, for many reasons." She describes the current conversation as "a bit ‘cringe’, if I may use that word," highlighting the scale of the proposals.
The piece argues that before considering costly rail projects, Cyprus should first build a reliable bus system. It calls for more buses, dedicated lanes, and frequencies of about ten minutes during the day and service extending to 1am. Clear audio announcements about location and next stops would reduce uncertainty, allowing passengers to plan evenings without worrying about missed connections. The author stresses that such improvements would connect cities to villages and suburbs, making public transport a seamless part of daily life.
Paphos is cited as a test case. Residents there should be able to reach the town centre, airport, hospital, beaches, or any village without treating travel as a logistical project. The goal is to eliminate the need for car ownership as a condition of participation in ordinary life.
The author concludes that rail may become viable only after a successful bus policy is established. She urges policymakers to ask: "Can we afford not to make the bus work first?" The ultimate objective is a country where owning a car is a choice, not a necessity.