Because Cyprus has no working railway system, various other methods of transport are needed to ensure the proper delivery of any cargo, be it human or freight. Since the last railway was dismantled in 1952, the only remaining modes of transport are by road, by sea, and by air.
Roads
Of the 12,118 km of roads in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus in 2006, 7,850 km were paved, while 4,268 km were unpaved. In 1996, the Turkish Cypriot area showed a close, but smaller ratio of paved to unpaved with about 1,370 km out of 2,350 km paved and 980 km unpaved. As a legacy of British rule, Cyprus is one of only three EU nations in which vehicles drive on the left.
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. The bus system is numbered:
1 - 33 Limassol daytime local routes
40 - 95A Limassol daytime rural routes
100 - 259 Nicosia daytime buses
300s Nicosia night network route
101/102/201/301/ 500s Famagusta/Ayia Napa district daytime route
610 Pafos Harbour Station - Market up to every 10 minutes
611 Pafos Harbour Station - Waterpark up to every 10 minutes
615 Pafos Harbour Station - Coral bay up to every 10 minutes
618 Pafos Harbour Station - Pafos karavella bus station Every 30 mins
Licensed vehicles
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.
Vehicle Category
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Private vehicles
270,348
277,554
291,645
324,212
344,953
363.383
400.432
432,702
450,182
Taxis
1,641
1,559
1,696
1,770
1,845
1.780
1.856
1,864
1,870
Rental cars
8,080
8,509
9,160
9,652
8,336
7.782
8.648
8,951
8,452
Buses
3,003
2,997
3,275
3,199
3,217
3.221
3.292
3,402
3,449
Τrucks
117,942
117,792
119,646
117,825
118,355
115,723
117,498
121,779
124,097
Tractors
13,594
13,932
14,284
13,941
14,368
14,739
14,956
15,478
15,877
Motorcycles
41,985
40,276
41,516
41,396
40,381
40,359
41,211
43,219
42,690
TOTAL
442,999
448,687
466,938
498,054
517,087
532.248
591,962
631,824
651,149
Public transport in Cyprus is limited to privately run bus services, taxis, and interurban 'shared' taxi services. 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
Ports and harbours
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. Smaller vessels and private yachts can dock at Marinas in Cyprus. Larnaca Marina in Larnaca St Raphael Marina in Limassol Paphos Harbour List of ports and harbours: Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos.
Bike in Action is the latest transportation system for the greater Nicosia area, similar to programs employed successfully in various cities around the world. Bicycles can be found at stations in all participating municipalities and returned after their use at any station.
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. In 1999, Cyprus had six heliports and two international airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. Nicosia International Airport has been closed since 1974.
