The winners of two competitions organised as part of this year’s European Mobility Week, by Transport Malta in collaboration with the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure, and Capital Projects have been announced. The campaign is spearheaded by the European Commission and celebrated annually between the 16th and 22nd of September, on World Car Free Day.
This was announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia during a certificate-awarding ceremony at Transport Malta, where representatives from the winning local councils were present.
The competition was divided into two categories: permanent and sustainable mobility measures and the organisation of small events and activities.
The objective of the first competition was to enable Local Councils and NGOs to investigate the role of their respective roads and potentially implement practical solutions to address urban challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and the lack of road accessibility in the urban village. The winner of this competition is the Siġġiewi Local Council, which will install four charging stations for ten e-bikes in the surrounding area. The second winners are the Local Council of Żurrieq and the Western Regional Council. They will install parking sensors in the parking lots in the centre of Żurrieq to reduce emissions by preventing unnecessary traffic.
The second competition targeted funding for activities promoting sustainable and alternative transportation forms. The Local Councils who won this competition will organise these activities: The Dingli Local Council will organise a Heritage Trail with segways, a bike ride with the Dingli Scouts, a pedometer challenge, a street sports day, and a car-free day. The Msida Local Council will organise activities on the roads between Triq ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex and Misraħ San Ġużepp, as well as a car-free day. The Munxar Local Council will organise a car-free day in Xlendi between the 16th and the 22nd of September, a car-free day in Munxar, an activity for all the family in Xlendi and another in Munxar, and a train ride for the elderly. The San Lawrenz Local Council will restrict access to the village square, where it will host some activities to encourage residents to use alternative forms of transportation, as well as a car-free day and several activities to promote car-pooling and public transportation.
Minister Aaron Farrugia, elaborated on how the government is promoting and implementing alternative mobility measures and how the Local Councils are a strategic partner for the government to continue implementing its vision for mobility in our country; one in which we become less dependent on personal vehicles.
“I am pleased to see more local councils and associations proposing new initiatives. I encourage more local councils to take this action. Come to us with ideas and proposals; our doors are always open to such endeavours, so long as the ultimate goal is to create roads and spaces for people which are not dominated by vehicles. It is not easy to challenge what we have been accustomed to for many years, but it is time to take the country forward and to the next level,” concluded Minister Farrugia.
Transport Malta’s CEO, Jonathan Borg explained that through this campaign, both local councils and NGOs could expand pedestrianised zones in urban village cores and introduce cycle lanes in their respective towns or villages. Besides congratulating the winners of the two competitions, the CEO also spoke about the role of Transport Malta in regulating and promoting alternative transport solutions for a cleaner environment.
Laura-Sue Armeni, Transport Malta’s director for European affairs, praised the Local Councils for their proposals and urged participants to participate during Malta’s National Bike Ride being organised by Transport Malta on the 24th of September, marking the end of this year’s European Mobility Week. All those interested can register here.