A total of 10 councils and five non-governmental organisations will be taking part in this year’s car free day, being held on September 22.
Addressing a press conference at the Mdina Ditch, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said the councils the Sta Venera, Dingli, Kalkara, Mellieha, Ghajnsielem, Lija, Floriana, Fgura ,Attard and Vittoriosa councils will all be organising street activities to celebrate the event.
Roads that will be closed to traffic include St Joseph High Road in Sta Venera, part of Hompesch Road, Fgura, Triq il-Parrocca, Mellieha, Triq ic-Centinarju tal-Parocca, Vittoriosa and Triq Giovanni Barbara in Lija.
The councils and NGOs took on board 20 proposals, including photography competitions of commuters experiences on public transport, fun runs, talks on air quality and increased promotion on the use of public transport to include the use of sea cabs.
The NGOs taking part are the Bicycling Advocacy Group, Friends of the Earth, Don Bosco Oratory, Anici Band Club of Qormi and Inspire.
The 10 councils taking part each qualified for a grant of €2,000 funded by Mepa.
Activities will be held as follows:
Sta Venera in St Joseph High Road, from S George’s Road to Braille Street;
Mellieha in San Luqa and il-Parocca streets and in Misrah Parocca;
Ghajnsielem in J.F. De Chambray, Dun Guzepp Galea Rapa and Wied ir-Rajjes Street and in Pjazza Indipendenza;
Fgura in part Hompesch Road including parts of surrounding streets – l-Iskola, San Gwann, il-Bieb, il-Gallu and Sant Antnin streets;
Vittoriosa inic-Centinarju tal-Parrocca, il-Kwartier and il-Palazz l-Antik tal-Gvernatur streets and in Misrah ir-Rebha;
Victoria – Upper Republic Street (early afternoon);
Marsalforn – Marina Street (late afternoon);
Qormi – Dun Gwakkin Schembri Street.
Transport Malta will be organising a bicycle rodeo around Marsascala in the afternoon. Children will be given small gifts and information on air quality.
The minister said that Government must lead by example and it was committed to only using Euro 5 quality vehicles.