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Transport in Cyprus

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Transport in Cyprus consists of transport by land, water and air. Road transport is the primary mode of transport for most Cypriot citizens, and Cyprus's road transport systems are well-developed and extensively used across the island.

Because Cyprus no longer has a working railway system, various other methods of transport are needed to ensure the proper delivery of any cargo, be it human or freight. As the last passenger railway was dismantled in 1952, the only remaining modes of transport are by road, sea, and air.

Roads

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Main article: Roads and motorways in Cyprus
Night view between Agios Athanasios junction and Mesa Geitonia junction in Limassol

From the 12,118 kilometres (7,530 mi) of roads in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus in 2006, 7,850 kilometres (4,880 mi) were paved, while 4,268 kilometres (2,652 mi) were unpaved. In 1996, the Turkish Cypriot area showed a close, but smaller ratio of paved to unpaved with about 1,370 kilometres (850 mi) out of 2,350 kilometres (1,460 mi) paved and 980 kilometres (610 mi) unpaved.[1] As a legacy of British rule, Cyprus is one of only three EU nations in which vehicles drive on the left.

Motorways

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Public transportation

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Nicosia's residents rely on private cars to go around the city. With more than 629 automobiles per 1,000 people, Cyprus has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world and the country uses very little public transportation. Only 3% of journeys in the Greater Nicosia urban region are made by public transportation. Cycling is considerably less common at 2%.[2][3][4] The government of Cyprus and authorities of Nicosia have developed a public transportation plan to ensure access to more areas and provide more options, apart from private cars.[2]

Public transportation companies

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In Cyprus, public transportation by bus is run by different companies based on the district.

Nicosia and Larnaca: NPT (Nicosia Public Transport) and LPT (Larnaca Public Transport), operated by Cyprus Public Transport (CPT)

Limassol: EMEL (Transport Company for Limassol Commuters)

Paphos: OSYPA (Paphos Transport Organisation)

Famagusta: OSEA (Famagusta District Transport Organisation)

INTERCITY BUSES: Services transport between all major cities

Solomos Square bus station

Public buses

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In 2006, extensive plans were announced to improve and expand bus services and restructure public transport throughout Cyprus, with the financial backing of the European Union Development Bank. In 2010, the new revised and expanded bus network was implemented into the system.[5]

In 2020, the transport companies for the districts of Nicosia and Larnaca were changed from OSEL (Nicosia District Transport Organisation) to NPT (Nicosia Public Transport) and from ZENON Larnaca Buses[6] to LPT (Larnaca Public Transport) respectively.[7]

In 2022, Cyprus Public Transport made new plans for Nicosia's Public Transport by changing route numbers, adding new bus hubs and modernising buses and the all-out feel of the transport system. The plan has been introduced in two phases and is currently completed.[8]

Rail

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Cyprus currently has no functioning railway systems. The last of the narrow gauge systems in the country closed in 1974. There had been studies and preparatory work done to establish a modern system between the major cities,[9] motivated by worsening traffic issues. Ιn Octomber 2024, a company in England showed their interest to construct a new railway system in Cyprus.

In 2018, Nicosia municipal authorities requested an opinion on the construction of a tram network in the city to the European Investment Bank's JASPERS strategists, who concluded a need for a phased approach.[2] Relevant studies were also carried out in the past, but no concrete plans has materialised.[10]

Licensed vehicles

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Public blue buses operated by OSEL in Solomos Square, Nicosia
A taxi in Cyprus

Road transport is the dominant form of transport on the island. Figures released by the International Road Federation in 2007 show that Cyprus holds the highest car ownership rate in the world with 742 cars per 1,000 people.[11]

Number of licensed vehicles[12]
Vehicle Category 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
TOTAL OF CARS 12,643.00 13,127.00 13,135.00 15,200.00 14,500.00 14,565.00 33,795.00 2,994.00 4,369.00

Public transport in Cyprus is limited to privately run bus services (except in Nicosia and Larnaca), taxis, and interurban 'shared' taxi services (locally referred to as service taxis). Thus, private car ownership in the country is the fifth highest per capita in the world. However, in 2006 extensive plans were announced to expand and improve bus services and restructure public transport throughout Cyprus, with the financial backing of the European Union Development Bank

Sea harbours and ports

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The ports of Cyprus are operated and maintained by the Cyprus Ports Authority. Major harbours of the island are Limassol Harbour, and Larnaca Harbour, which service cargo, passenger, and cruise ships. Limassol is the larger of the two, and handles a large volume of both cargo and cruise vessels. Larnaca is primarily a cargo port but played a big part in the evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon in 2006, and in the subsequent humanitarian aid effort. A smaller cargo dock also exists at Vasilikos, near Zygi (a small town between Larnaca and Limassol). Smaller vessels and private yachts can dock at Marinas in Cyprus.

Public bicycle sharing system

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Public bicycles in Nicosia

Nextbike is the latest transportation system in Cyprus, similar to programs employed successfully in various cities around the world. Bicycles can be found at stations in Nicosia and Limassol, as well as with 1 station in Larnaca.

Merchant marine

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See full article on Cyprus Merchant Marine

Total: 1,414 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross tonnage (GT) or over) totaling 23,497,776 GT/37,331,506 tonnes deadweight (DWT)

Ships by Type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 442, cargo ship 495, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 8, container ship 144, Liquified Gas Carrier 6, passenger ship 8, petroleum tanker 142, refrigerated cargo 41, roll-on/roll-off 45, short-sea passenger 13, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

Airports

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Larnaca International Airport

In 1999, Cyprus had 12 airports with paved runways. Of them, seven had runways of lengths between 2,438 and 3,047 metres, one had a length between 1,524 and 2,437 metres, three had lengths between 914 and 1524 metres, and one had a length less than 914 metres.

Of the three airports with unpaved runways, two had lengths less than 914 metres and one had a length between 914 and 1524 metres.

International airports

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Larnaca International Airport is the island's main airport and flies to many locations worldwide.

Paphos International Airport is the 2nd largest airport and mostly flies to Europe, via Ryanair; with occasional flights to other continents.

Nicosia International Airport is an abandoned airport. It used to be the island's main airport until 1974. It remains closed to the public.

Ercan International Airport is the main airport in the de facto state of Northern Cyprus. The airport's only destination is Turkey, serviced only by Turkish airlines (not to be confused with the company). Flights to and from Ercan Airport are illegal.

References

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  1. ^ Τμήμα Δημοσίων Έργων - Στατιστικά Στοιχεία - Συντήρηση Δρόμων 2006 Archived 2008-11-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c "Get on the bus first to make Nicosia tram infrastructure worth the investment". European Investment Bank. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  3. ^ "Trem Global | Public Transportation in Nicosia". www.tremglobal.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  4. ^ "Sustainable Transport". www.cea.org.cy. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  5. ^ "Cyprus By Bus - Cyprus Bus stops, bus routes and bus time tables". www.cyprusbybus.com. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  6. ^ 24h.com.cy (2020-06-23). "Απεργιακά μέτρα αρχίζουν εργαζομένων στην εταιρεία «ΖΗΝΩΝ» Λάρνακας – 24h.com.cy" [Workers at the "Zenon" company in Larnaca begin strike action - 24h.com.cy] (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-09-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Ανακοινωθέντα Άρθρο - PIO" [Announced Article - PIO]. www.pio.gov.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  8. ^ "First phase of new bus network kicks off in Nicosia | Cyprus Mail". cyprus-mail.com/. 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  9. ^ "Cyprus ponders building a new railway with EU funding". Cyprus Mail. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Nicosia Mayor urges study, implementation of tram network". Cyprus Mail. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  11. ^ Ryu, Jin (2007-12-14). "Korea Ranks 40th in Car Ownership". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  12. ^ "ΑΡΧΙΚΗ". PIO – Public Works Department official statistics. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
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