FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1988
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PROPOSAL TO INCREASE PLB SEATING CAPACITY TO 16
OR
F
A BILL ENABLING THE MAXIMUM SEATING CAPACITY OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES TO BE INCREASED FROM 14 TO 16 WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PROPOSED INCREASE, CONTAINED IN
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT} (NO. 3) BILL 1988, WILL ENABLE BETTER USE OF THE PASSENGER CARRYING POTENTIAL OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND WILL HELP TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT, ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK HOURS.
THE PROPOSED INCREASE WILL ALSO APPLY TO PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES.
THE INCREASE OF UP TO 16 SEAT'S IS FINAL AND NO FURTHER RELAXATION IN THE DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT OR SEATING CAPACITY OF PUBLIC PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES WOULD BE CONSIDERED).
THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXISTING POLICY THAT PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES SHOULD PLAY A COMPLEMENTARY ROLE IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK, SUPPLEMENTING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MASS TRANSPORT CARRIERS.
TO PROVIDE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS AND A BUS, THE MINIMUM SEATING CAPACITY OF A BUS WILL ALSO BE AMENDED SO THAT IT HAS TO CARRY MORE THAN 16 PASSENGERS.
OPERATORS CAN CONTINUE ΤΟ OPERATE THE EXISTING 14-SEATER PUBLIC LIGHT BUS VEHICLES, IF THEY SO WISH, AFTER PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
VEHICLES NOW REGISTERED AS PRIVATE OR PUBLIC BUSES AND HAVING A SEATING CAPACITY OF 15 OR 16 WILL KEEP THEIR EXISTING CLASSIFICATION AND WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE BILL. THERE ARE, AT PRESENT, 30 SUCH VEHICLES.
WILL
TAX)
AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ABOVE CHANGES, MINOR AMENDMENTS ALSO HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, THE ROAD TUNNELS (GOVERNMENT) REGULATIONS AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
LEGISLATIVE
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