Coffee shops, charging of electric vehicles, toilets in highways

[galexinda]

During today’s meeting, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Transport Ministry for the establishment of facilities in Cyprus’ highways, including toilets, coffee shops and areas for recharging electric vehicles. The suggestion arose following requests by tourists and other organized groups aiming to support the users of highways.

The operation of such infrastructures is particularly widespread abroad where distances are longer. However, the proposal was evaluated positively since it is expected to satisfy the needs of local users of the highway and tourists.

At a first stage, the said infrastructures will be established at the following points:

Alambra (Alambra-Nicosia section)
Xylotymbou (Alambra-Agia Napa section)
Kofinou (Alambra-Limassol section)
Episkopi (Limassol-Paphos section, from Paphos)
Mandria (Limassol-Paphos section, from Limassol)

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/coffee- ... -highways/

[trevnhil]

The choice of Mandria seems strange. It is only 5 or10 minutes from the end of the Motorway

[cyprusmax47]

Well, Mandria/Kouklia has already the basic infrastructure to built service station, restaurant etc, laying on the 2,5 km long emergency landing strip which was built for the Army long time ago. Further it is not on the end of the motorway as soon as the Paphos-Polis project is done.

Max

[Kili01]

Building 'rest rooms + catering facilities etc' is a good idea and long overdue here on Cyprus's motorways. Other countries have had them for years, tourists will expect them.

Dee

[WHL]

Any improvement for drivers is welcomed, but it isnt life changing need , the furthest you will drive from one city to another city in Cyprus is 30 minutes,

[trevnhil]

You are probably right about the cities being 30 minutes apart or a little more.
But if you are travelling from Polis to Nicosia some proper services would be much appreciated.
You are right in saying you can go into (for example Limassol) but it is finding somewhere in the city to spend a penny that is difficult

[WHL]

You are probably right about the cities being 30 minutes apart or a little more.
But if you are travelling from Polis to Nicosia some proper services would be much appreciated.
You are right in saying you can go into (for example Limassol) but it is finding somewhere in the city to spend a penny that is difficult

Any Costa/Starbucks/Nero/Mcdonalds etc, can be used for a toilet break, on the rare occasion we go to Paphos, we always pull in to a coffee shop in Limassol for a drink and a pee.

[wantoosoon]

You are probably right about the cities being 30 minutes apart or a little more.
But if you are travelling from Polis to Nicosia some proper services would be much appreciated.
You are right in saying you can go into (for example Limassol) but it is finding somewhere in the city to spend a penny that is difficult

Any Costa/Starbucks/Nero/Mcdonalds etc, can be used for a toilet break, on the rare occasion we go to Paphos, we always pull in to a coffee shop in Limassol for a drink and a pee.

Yes, those well-known motorway Starbucks we have... Going into Limassol isn't the same as a quick stop at a service station.

And Paphos to Limassol is more like 50-55 minutes at the speed limit, as is Limassol to Larnaca, and as for Paphos to Nicosia... I don't know where this 30 minutes idea comes from.

In addition, to get to any existing services, you often need to get off the motorway and drive for 10 minutes along a B road to some village. Do that both ways and your journey is 40 minutes longer, not including the actual rest break.

Finally, motorway services could reduce driver distraction and heighten attention, which can only be a good thing.

[cyprusmax47]

It would be specially nice for tourists, which don't know the area they are driving to find places where they can have a nice drink and some snacks, beside visiting the toilets and get petrol etc. It is big business in North Italy, where one can find every 30 km or so a combination of petrol station, kiosk, coffee- and souvenir shop and the best espresso/cappuccino's of the whole country. OK, Cyprus tourism is much smaller than in Italy, but I believe also Cypriots from other areas would like facilities like that in the summer heat when driving p.e. from Nicosia to Polis etc.
Here one example from Laimburg/South Tirol....

[WHL]

You are probably right about the cities being 30 minutes apart or a little more.
But if you are travelling from Polis to Nicosia some proper services would be much appreciated.
You are right in saying you can go into (for example Limassol) but it is finding somewhere in the city to spend a penny that is difficult

Any Costa/Starbucks/Nero/Mcdonalds etc, can be used for a toilet break, on the rare occasion we go to Paphos, we always pull in to a coffee shop in Limassol for a drink and a pee.

Yes, those well-known motorway Starbucks we have... Going into Limassol isn't the same as a quick stop at a service station.

And Paphos to Limassol is more like 50-55 minutes at the speed limit, as is Limassol to Larnaca, and as for Paphos to Nicosia... I don't know where this 30 minutes idea comes from.

In addition, to get to any existing services, you often need to get off the motorway and drive for 10 minutes along a B road to some village. Do that both ways and your journey is 40 minutes longer, not including the actual rest break.

Finally, motorway services could reduce driver distraction and heighten attention, which can only be a good thing.

Try reading what I posted,
the furthest you will drive from one city to another city in Cyprus is 30 minutes,

[Kili01]

But, properly designed motorway service centres like those in the UK, Germany, France, Italy etc, are far more convenient providing they are adjacent to the motorway. Drivers going for longer trips on the motorway, Nicosia to Paphos or even Polis will if driving at the permitted speed expect to be driving for 2hrs plus. So will appreciate these facilities for a quick stop in their journey.

Dee

[memory man]

Cyprus bottom in EU for number of electric car charging points

Cyprus has the least number of charging points for electric vehicles in the EU with just 57 compared with the Netherlands which has over 90,000, stats published on Thursday show.

Although there has been a strong increase in the number of electric vehicles charging points across the EU in the past five years (+180 per cent), the total number (307,000) falls short in meeting the requirements set by the EU for 2030 that seeks to reach a 55 per cent CO2 reduction for cars.

To reach that, a recent study by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association showed that up to 6.8 million charging points would be required by 2030.

Notably, while some EU countries are driving ahead when it comes to infrastructure development, the majority lag behind. As a result, half of all chargers in the EU are concentrated in just two countries, the Netherlands and Germany.

The Netherlands currently numbers 90,284 charging stations, that is, almost 1600 times more charging points than the country with the least infrastructure, Cyprus, which numbers just 57 points.

However, just a year ago Cyprus numbered around 30 charging points, marking almost a 50 per cent increase compared to today’s figures in line with authorities’ target of eventually installing charging stations on all major highways in Cyprus.

Only this week, cabinet approved the creation of facilities across the island’s motorways, that includes among other projects, electric vehicle charging stations.

Along with the Netherlands and Germany, countries with the most charging points include France (37,128), Sweden (25,197) and Italy (23,543) while the countries with the least charging points includes Malta (98), Lithuania (207), Estonia (385) and Latvia (420)

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/06/23/cypr ... ng-points/

[trevnhil]

Surely this part of the statement is wrong ???
" The Netherlands currently numbers 90,284 charging stations, that is, almost 1600 times more charging points than the country with the least infrastructure, Cyprus, which numbers just 57 points.

However, just a year ago Cyprus numbered around 30 charging points, marking almost a 50 per cent increase compared to today’s figures in line with authorities’ target of eventually installing charging stations on all major highways in Cyprus."

If Cyprus had 30 charging points, and they now have 57, that is almost a 100% increase

[wantoosoon]

Any Costa/Starbucks/Nero/Mcdonalds etc, can be used for a toilet break, on the rare occasion we go to Paphos, we always pull in to a coffee shop in Limassol for a drink and a pee.

Yes, those well-known motorway Starbucks we have... Going into Limassol isn't the same as a quick stop at a service station.

And Paphos to Limassol is more like 50-55 minutes at the speed limit, as is Limassol to Larnaca, and as for Paphos to Nicosia... I don't know where this 30 minutes idea comes from.

In addition, to get to any existing services, you often need to get off the motorway and drive for 10 minutes along a B road to some village. Do that both ways and your journey is 40 minutes longer, not including the actual rest break.

Finally, motorway services could reduce driver distraction and heighten attention, which can only be a good thing.

Try reading what I posted,
the furthest you will drive from one city to another city in Cyprus is 30 minutes,

I read what you wrote and it isn't accurate. Driving between any of Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol takes more than 30 minutes at the speed limit. Drive to a non-adjacent town/city and it will take even longer. Try reading what I wrote.

Of course, not all of us drive at the speed limit, do we?