Larnaca school bus route suspended after vandalism on board
A school bus route serving villages in the Larnaca district was suspended after vandals broke seats, with the transport ministry saying the service cannot run safely until those responsible are identified.
A school bus route serving villages in the Larnaca district was suspended on Thursday after cases of vandalism and disorder left seats broken and damaged, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The transport ministry confirmed the decision, which affects pupils who rely on the service to get to school.
Public transport director Andreas Nikiforou said initial warnings to students did not stop the behaviour, and the situation worsened the following day. The company running the route told the ministry a safety issue had arisen, leading to the suspension until those responsible are identified and barred from future travel. "For safety reasons, it simply cannot operate," Nikiforou said.
He noted that only a small portion of students were involved, and that the aim was to protect those who use the service properly. The incidents have been reported to police, and schools, the education ministry, transport authorities and parents' associations have been informed, though those responsible have yet to be traced. Identification could come through parents or students reporting incidents to school boards, he said.
The transport ministry said bus checks have been stepped up this school year, going beyond what national legislation and contracts with operators require. It argued that safety depends not only on the technical condition of vehicles but also on conditions inside them, and that vandalism and disruptive behaviour put passengers at risk and distract drivers. Damaged buses can be pulled from service for repairs, and with replacement vehicles and drivers in short supply, temporary suspensions are sometimes unavoidable. The ministry urged parents to reinforce expectations that students stay seated and respect drivers and fellow passengers.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, speaking later in Limassol, opposed the transport ministry's move, saying it is wrong to punish all students for the actions of a few. "What is disturbing is that, for the sake of two or three cases, the name of all our children is being tarnished," she said, pointing out that around 25,000 children use school buses every day. She said she is in talks with the transport ministry about alternatives, including cameras to improve monitoring inside buses.
What it means for residents
For families in the affected Larnaca villages, the suspension means finding another way to get children to school, often at short notice and at their own cost, until the route is restored.
- Plan the school run now. Check with the school and the operator whether the route is running, and arrange car sharing or alternative transport if it is not.
- Report what you know. Parents and students can pass information about the incidents to school boards, which the authorities say is the main route to identifying those involved.
- Watch for a wider roll-out. The talks about cameras on buses could lead to monitoring on more routes, so keep an eye on school communications.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
