Malta’s lacklustre participation in Europe’s sustainable transport campaign is set to change this year with events spreading over seven days and local councils unveiling green mobility plans.
When European Mobility Week was launched 12 years ago, 18 localities had organised activities, the number rising to 28 in 2003 and again to 34 the year after.
But then participation started to dip and, in 2009, Malta was the only EU member that did not take part, national coordinator Peter Paul Barbara said.
People... find it offensive being unable to drive through other urban streets even for just one day
European Mobility Week, a European Commission initiative, kicked off on Tuesday and ends with a car-free day on Monday.
Mr Barbara noted that, for a number of years, car-free day here was held on a Sunday not to upset people. The activity was always shrouded in some controversy, he said, and, yet, nobody objected to roads being closed during carnival, village feasts or festivals.
In some localities, streets were closed to accommodate flea markets and on Sundays to hold horse races or to let off fireworks, he added.
“It seems to me that few really care about those who live every day of their life having to deal with the noise of traffic and being exposed to traffic-generated pollution. “People living in quieter areas find it offensive being unable to drive through other urban streets even for just one day.”
Mr Barbara said local councils had been opting for activities to attract the masses rather than promote sustainable mobility.
For some time, they were given a small grant to hold activities in their own locality and this year it was decided that funding would be linked to a competition for the best proposals from each of the five regions and for the best five NGO proposals.
There were 13 submissions by local councils and only four NGOs were awarded grants.
Sustainable urban mobility plans were also being introduced to be implemented over three to four years. The plan that promises to be the most efficient to cut pollution and energy consumption in a locality and make better use of public space will be getting €50,000 that would be used to finance one of the measures proposed in that same plan.
A €1,400 electric bicycle will be given to the locality that manages to mobilise the largest number of people for a national bike ride that will be held on Sunday.
It starts from near the Transport Ministry in Floriana at 4pm and finishes at 6.30pm in St George’s Square. Also, the names of three participants who make a donation of not less than €10 in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund will be drawn by lot and will receive an electric bicycle each.
Car-free day will be held on September 22 and since it happens to be the first day of school, only St Anne’s Street, in Floriana will be closed between 8.30am and 7.30pm, with traffic being directed towards Sarria church. A number of roads in some localities will be closed for some time throughout the week.
Harbour Ferry Services will be offering significant fare reductions and the Blata l-Bajda park-and-ride and the Barrakka lift will be free on Monday.
More information on www.facebook.com/EuropeanMobilityWeekMalta.
The figures
• There are 325,158 licensed motor vehicles
• 79.3 per cent of these are passenger cars
• In 2010, cycling and walking accounted to 1.7 per cent of travel