Transport in Gibraltar
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Gibraltar has a large car population, in spite of its small size, with as many motor vehicles as people. Traffic in Gibraltar drives on the right, as it shares a land border with Spain. Originally traffic was on the left, but fearing accidents and disputes involving vehicles from Spain, the authorities ordered the change in 1929.
Gibraltar's international vehicle registration is GBZ, and Gibraltar number plates consist of the letter G followed by a series of digits. These are the same shape, type face and colours as those in the UK. The Chief Minister's official car has the registration number G1, while the Governor's car, following tradition, has a crown, not a number plate.
Railways:
total:
0 km;
There used to be a 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard (http://wiktionary.org/wiki/Dockyard) area only
Highways:
total:
49.9 km
paved:
49.9 km
unpaved:
0 km
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbours: Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
total:
26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 477,183 GRT/752,644 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 4, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 13, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
The airport is built on the isthmus which the Spanish Government claim not to have been ceded in the Treaty of Utrecht, thus the integration of Gibraltar Airport in the Single European Sky system has been blocked by Spain. The 1987 agreement for joint control of the airport with Spain was rejected by the then Government of Gibraltar. All successive Gibraltar Governments have rejected it, although welcoming joint use of the airport. This offer has not been accepted.
Spain also bans ferry and air services to and from Gibraltar. For a few months in 2004 Spain banned cruise ships which had visited Gibraltar from going to Spanish ports on the same journey. Motorists and sometimes pedestrians crossing the border are randomly subjected to long delays and searches.
In 2003 the land frontier was closed for a day by Spain on the grounds that a visiting cruise liner was affected by contagious food poisioning. Subsequently, no cases in Gibraltar were reported.
Bus routes:
total:
5
Buses run to most areas of the territory apart from the Upper Rock, which is a nature reserve. One bus company runs four routes, a second company runs one. Buses run regularly from the frontier/airport area to the city centre.
Taxis
Taxis are available around the Rock. Many cater specifically offer tours of the Upper Rock nature reserve. These can be picked up from the frontier or the city centre.
Cable car
A cable car runs from just south of the city centre to the Ape's Den and the Top of the Rock, which despite its name is actually the second highest peak of the Rock.
- See also : Gibraltar