The recent call made by Alfred Farrugia of the Malta Automobile Club for a reduction in circulation tax for low annual mileage car users has a number of valid points.

Significantly there is the reference to the need of a modal shift by the car lobby away from private car use as a way of creating space for traffic to be able to continue to move.

This is a paradigm shift as much as a modal one, where most traffic experts are stumped on how to do this. It is to be applauded.

The measure proposed might unintentionally facilitate induced demand by increasing Sunday and daily car ownership, filling the space created.

However if expanded upon, by reducing circulation tax, or the fixed costs across the board (not just to Sunday drivers), and increasing the variable cost of fuel, to average the same revenue, all drivers who use their car less will end up saving money. Those who don’t would be no worse off. This might seem odd coming from a bicycle advocacy group but it is actually something that we have suggested in the past as a moderate stick and carrot approach to creating the all important modal shift on a wider scale.

Another way to achieve this might be to give drivers a circulation tax credit based on their use of the bus card during the rush hour, which would be very easily managed.

Either way, in a year that will see significant inconveniences to drivers, both north and south of Marsa, in the shape of the works on the tidal flow and Kappara projects, creating a modal shift or space for people who still need to use their cars is going to be key.