Public transport in Gozo : the case study of Xewkija, Qala and Nadur

Abstract

Gozo is the sister island of Malta which forms part of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is 67km2, compromising of just over 30,000 inhabitants. The population is dispersed within the parameters of 13 hamlets which have evolved around Victoria, Gozo's solitary city. The private car is the most popular mode of transport on the island. Public transport on the on the other hand consists of a series of circular routes linking villages to the city of Victoria. For the purpose of this study, the bus routes of Xewkija, Nadur and Qala have been systematically chosen to be closely examined. Moreover, Xewkija, Nadur and Qala are the largest villages on the island. This study aims at defining the basic characteristics of bus transport in Gozo by analyzing bus frequency and travel patterns of commuters. The study then proposes a number of low-cost procedures that can be implemented in the bus system in Gozo in order to enhance the quality of the public transport service.