Seven Rabat restaurant owners have teamed up to provide clients with a free shuttle service to and from a public car park on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The service is being offered by Cosmana Navarra, Bottegin Palazzo Xara, Palazzo Castelletti, Da Luigi, Toffee and Co, Peristyle and Grotto Tavern.
A minibus leaves the car park in Racecourse Street every 15 minutes between 8pm and midnight to take clients to the seven eateries and then back to their cars.
“We know that parking in Rabat is often somewhat of a problem,” restaurateur Keith Psaila said at the launch of the initiative. “The initiative brings Rabat restaurateurs together for the common interest of strengthening the commercial community. We hope to expand the service to include Sundays too.”
We need to change the prevailing mentality that everyone can park everywhere
While praising the private initiative, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi encouraged other entities to follow suit, saying such schemes helped cut fuel consumption, resulting in less pollution.
Such initiatives, he said, meant people were getting well accustomed to using the park-and-ride service.
According to an agreement signed with the Spanish company that would be taking over public transport next month, the Blata l-Bajda park-and-ride facility would still be run by the government and the price would remain unchanged, he said.
Mr Mizzi also said that, in the coming months, the government would be issuing a public consultation document on a new parking policy.
“It’s almost ready but we were approached by some entities and asked to revise some of its aspects.
“The policy will be addressing a number of issues, including educating people in a bid to change the prevailing mentality that everyone can park everywhere, whether it’s on double yellow lines or on bus stops. If needs be, disciplinary action will be taken.
“It will also include new ideas on residential and reserved parking,” he added.