Buses forced into complicated manoeuvres while passengers move on foot right in the middle of the action, as vehicles try to make their way through.
This is the situation reported by several bus drivers at the terminal in San Marino City, in the station area where the tourist train also arrives.
According to the drivers, the problem has been dragging on for several months now, and in recent weeks — with the summer tourist influx and the daily arrival of numerous coaches from the Riviera — it has been creating difficulties both in terms of traffic flow and safety.
The main issue lies with the car park exit, which is currently not usable. As a result, drivers explain, buses are forced to use the same access point for both entering and leaving the area.
«They haven’t finished the exit road, and we’re forced to enter and leave through the same car park entrance», says one of the drivers who regularly travels the route to San Marino.
The situation becomes particularly complicated when several vehicles converge on the terminal at the same time. The more buses enter the area, the less room there is to manoeuvre, raising the risk of traffic jams and blocking movement within the terminal.
«It’s impossible to manoeuvre properly. The more buses that park inside, the more the whole car park gets gridlocked», the driver continues.
But what worries the drivers most is the presence of passengers. Tourists and other users have to reach their buses or move away from the area precisely while the vehicles are carrying out entry, exit and manoeuvring operations.
And it is here, according to those who spend every day behind the wheel, that the traffic problem risks turning into a safety issue.
«People walk past while the buses are manoeuvring, and there’s always a risk of running someone over», warns the driver.
According to reports, the situation is nothing new. Work on the terminal reportedly began some time ago, and the car park was supposed to be fully operational as far back as last Easter. Several months later, however, the exit problem is said to remain unresolved.
«It was supposed to be ready by Easter – the driver continues – instead here we are in August, and the car park still has no exit».
A critical situation that is felt most acutely during peak periods, given the number of tourist and scheduled buses arriving daily from Rimini and the Riviera to San Marino.
