Following the overall success of the European Mobility Week (EMW) organised last year, the Government is once more launching a number of initiatives and activities as part of the European Mobility Week and the ‘DO THE RIGHT MIX’ Campaign.
As from this year, the European Commission has decided to incorporate the EMW and other similar initiatives under the ‘DO THE RIGHT MIX’ Campaign, which will be the main umbrella under which such events as that of the EMW will be organised.
To this end, the Government decided to extend this year’s events over a longer period of time to incorporate activities and initiatives under the two areas. The events will start during the Mobility Week itself and will carry on during the month of October as part of the ‘DO THE RIGHT MIX’ Campaign. The activities are being organised by the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change and Transport Malta.
For this year, the usual grants offered by the organising committee to Local Councils and NGOs, will this year be earmarked for the ‘DO THE RIGHT MIX’ Campaign to be held during the month of October. However, Local Councils are encouraged to take initiatives and organise additional activities during the EMW itself. Local Councils are encouraged to register these activities on the European Website, http://www.mobilityweek.eu
CYCLING EVENTS
On a National Level, and to promote cycling, this year’s activities for the EMW will include two bicycle rodeos for children organised by Transport Malta as well as the second edition of the Malta National Bicycle Ride which will be held on the 21st of September – Independence Day.
The Bicycle Rodeos
The Bicycle Rodeo will take place at the Transport Malta Head Office on the 17th September in Marsa from 10.00 to 14.00. The event is open for children (accompanied by their parents and guardians). This activity is being organised with the collaboration and support of the Bicycle Advocacy Group and the Malta Cycling Federation. There will be refreshments and participants will be given freebees and a Cycling Proficient ID Card. Registration can be done by contacting Annemarie Decarlo on 22914182, or by visiting the EuropeanMobilityWeek-Malta events Facebook Page and joining in the event. Participants are required to bring their own bicycle and cycling helmet.
Another Bicycle Rodeo and other activities such as a “Traffic Snake Game for All” are being organised on Tuesday the 22nd of September, at the President’s Kitchen Garden from 10.00 to 13.00. The activity is intended for children and their parents. The event is being organised by Paragon Europe with the participation of Transport Malta.
In addition to this, on Wednesday 16th September 9.00 – 13.00 at the Malta Stock Exchange, Valletta, a Conference and Press Briefing will be held on Sustainable Modes of Transport and Identification of Best Practices in Inter Modality including the Launch of the Bike2Work Malta Campaign. For more information visit www.bike2workmalta.eu or contact Roberta Gatt on [email protected] or call 20106426.
The National Bicycle Ride: 21st September 2015
The Second Edition of The National Bicycle Ride will be organised on the 21st September, on Independence Day. This year this cycling event will serve as an activity to promote cycling as another means of transport as well as to send a message to vehicle drivers to drive with caution when sharing the road with cyclists.
Registration for The National Bicycle Ride will open at 8.00 am on the same day at the Parking Area in front of the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure (at Belt is-Sebħ), from where the Bicycle Ride will start at 8.30 am and will finish at around 11.30 am at the same place. The riders will be accompanied by a number of electric vehicles provided by Transport Malta. Registration is free of charge and each participant will be given a free t-shirt with the logo of the event. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to win one of five electric bicycles. Further information can be accessed on the European Mobility Week-Malta facebook page and The National Bicycle Ride 2015 facebook event page. The entry form to participate in the National Bicycle Ride can be downloaded from the website http://electromobility.gov.mt
NATIONAL CAR FREE DAY: 27TH SEPTEMBER 2015
This year’s national edition of the Car Free Day will take place on Sunday 27th September. Similar to last year, the Government will be closing St. Anne Street in Floriana, one of the main arterial roads, for vehicular traffic so as to encourage the use of other modes of transport, including public transport, the harbour ferry services, cycling and walking.
For the second consecutive year, the Valletta Ferry Services will be offering a discounted fare price. Further information can be found on http://www.vallettaferryservices.com/.
GRANTS FOR SMALL PROJECTS
Similar to last year, a number of € 2,000 grants will be made available to four Local Councils and four NGOs, which propose the best list of activities to be organised between Friday 23rd October and Sunday 1st November. Conditions for entry will be available on the Transport Malta Website and the Malta National Electromobility Website (www.transport.gov.mt and http://electromobility.gov.mt). Only those projects which promote clean and sustainable mobility initiatives will be considered. Two of the proposals chosen will have to be carried out in Gozo.
COMPETITION AND AWARD FOR THE BEST PERMANENT MEASURE TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE GREEN MOBILITY
During the EMW of 2014, a new award was launched in the form of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan Award. Last year the Valletta Local Council won this competition. The three runners up were Cospicua Local Council, Paola Local Council and Qormi Local Council.
This award was launched to instil the idea of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans and a sense of transport-related planning in localities in Malta and Gozo at a local level.
For this year, Transport Malta is introducing a new award for the Best Permanent Measures to Promote Sustainable Green Mobility at local or regional level. Participating Local Councils are encouraged to submit a list of permanent measures or services. Submissions may also be made in the form of joint submissions between a number of different local councils or neighbouring local councils sharing common borders.
The winning measure/s will need to be implemented by not later than the end of March 2016. The measure/s can also be done in the form of a PPP. The measure/s will need to address strictly clean mobility, collective mobility schemes, ITS based platforms or even Intelligent Traffic Management solutions. The proposal will need to include an indication of what the proposed measure/s would be expected to achieve as well as an indication of the expected results.
This year two grants will be available, a €50,000 grant for the overall winner and a €30,000 for the first runner up.
Conditions for entry will be available on the Transport Malta Website and the Malta National Electromobility Website (www.transport.gov.mt and http://electromobility.gov.mt).
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
As part of the ‘DO THE RIGHT MIX’ Campaign, the Maltese Government is teaming up with an International Conference – Greening the Islands, which, for this year’s edition, will be organised in Malta. The joint conference will be hosted over three days spanning between the 28th and 30th October.
The 28th October will comprise of the second National Conference on Electromobility which will carry the theme - The Air that we Share. More information on this conference will be released later on this month. During this conference, a number of initiatives and measures will be launched to address the improvement of Air Quality by Government. The conference will also discuss energy and water sustainability, while on Friday 30th October a whole session on sustainable mobility and green technologies including Electromobility will take centre stage.
Furthermore, a number of new studies commissioned by Transport Malta will also be made public and discussed during this conference. This includes a study on the carbon footprint of the Airport Region and a Feasibility Study about On Shore Electricity Supply for Berthing Ships in the Grand Harbour.