Diesel fuel should be taxed to discourage its use since it is one of the worst polluters, the Bicycle Advocacy Group (BAG) said in its pre-budget proposals.
Employees, particularly low-income earners, should be given bicycles to cycle to work, it added. The employer should pay for the bicycle, and the employee can then pay it off in monthly instalments, it explained.
“In cases where the employee’s income falls within the bands of taxable income, the payments made within that year should be tax-deductible for the calculations of that same year,” the group said.
The current traffic situation was making workers’ lives more difficult and complicated, the group noted, adding road congestions were costing the economy €200 million every year.
Potentially reduce sick days
The scheme could also contribute to a healthier workforce, which would be beneficial both for employers and the State, since it could potentially reduce sick days. It could also cut down on the health service’s expenditure, BAG noted.
The group also proposed that private imported cars should be taxed according to their physical size.
“Large private cars should be taxed since they take up more space than compact and sub-compact cars,” it recommended.
Some of these cars take up more than one parking slot so a second parking bay cannot be used by another car, it added.
Government departments should consider bicycles when purchasing vehicles for their fleets, it said.
“In the past the Department of Posts and the police used to have a fleet of bicycles available for their employees to carry out their services within the community,” BAG noted.
“The bicycle can also be used by nurses to visit the elderly and outpatients at home or by policemen while patrolling certain areas like promenades,” the group contended.
“The employee should be allowed to use the bicycle for commuting to and from home as a reward.”
Governmental departments should also consider purchasing a fleet of bicycles specifically for their employees to commute to and from work.
Teachers should be able to ride to schools, keeping themselves healthy and setting an exampleto students in the meantime, BAG noted.
It also recommended the installation of parking meters in heavily congested town cores, such as Valletta, Sliema, Mosta and Birkirkara.