On Monday 14th July, the new temporary car park at the Markopoulou Barracks site south of the Chania city centre was opened to vehicles. It will be remembered that this has been the subject of vociferous protests by locals who are determined that the whole of the 52 stremmata area made over to the Council by the Ministry of Defence should become a public park, and are moreover suspicious that any temporary arrangement is likely to become permanent.
According to a report in the Haniotika Nea on 15th July, initial take-up of the spaces was sparse, most likely because of the lack of publicity surrounding the opening, but possibly also due to the fact that entrance was being picketed by local residents informing users of their opposition to the use of the car park. No doubt things will settle down and and a modus vivendi will be established in which drivers can park their vehicles without feeling under threat.
Extension of the electric bus route
Almost more significant than the provision of free parking in the area south of the city centre, is the fact that the free electric bus service from the car park at Kladissos is being extended to take in the Markopoulou car park. While providing transport for those using the latter, it also immeasurably increases the usefulness of the route for those parking at Kladissos, giving them access to the Dikastirion area. From the easternmost point of the existing bus route, the KTEL terminal in Kydonias street, this was formerly only possible via a 20-minute walk, taxi or via a further bus journey on the urban KTEL network.
The new, extended route runs as follows:
Electric bus stops:
1. Departure from Kladissos car park, heading north-east on Kissamou street
2. Agios Nektarios stop on Kissamou
3. Nea Katastimata stop on Kydonias (KTEL terminus)
– continuing via Nikolau Plastira (the narrow one-way street which runs from the end of Kydonias up to the Agora) and then turning east
4. National Bank stop (opposite the Agora)
– turning down Andrea Papandreou
5. Olympia stop on Andrea Papandreou
– turning down Renieri street just before the Plateia Eleftherias (Dikastirion)
6. Stop at the Markopoulou Barracks site on Malinou street
– returning towards the city centre
7. Stop at the former War Museum on Nearchou street
– continuing towards the Agora on Tzanakaki, then west in front of the Agora on Hatzimchali Giannari
8. Stop on Hatzimichali Giannari
– continuing on Skalidi, then Kissamou
9. Ikonostasis stop on Kissamou
10. Terminus at Kladissos car park.
Hours of service:
As announced by the Municipality of Chania, buses run every 20 minutes, starting from Kladissos at 7:00 am and from Markopoulou at 7:30 am. The last bus will leave from Kladissos at 00:40 am and from Markopoulou at 01:10 am. The service runs from Monday through to Saturday, Sundays and public holidays excepted.
NB: the Municipal press release issued on 14th July gives the hours of the last buses as 10:40 pm from Kladissos and 11:10 pm from Markopoulou. The later times quoted by Haniotika Nea, above, correspond to the summer timetable which was in force last year from 12th August. No announcement has so far been made about its implementation this year.