Cycling advocacy NGO Rota has told The Malta Independent on Sunday how, in its view, Malta can deliver mobility that can cope with the country's forecasted population growth, "while avoiding crippling congestion."

The NGO believes that alongside investing in a "large-scale, high-capacity public transport backbone (if politically and financially feasible)" to get thousands of cars off Maltese roads daily, the Maltese government must also promote active travel, such as walking and cycling, boost e-mobility, i.e., the taking up of electric vehicles, especially instead of vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE), and implement demand management measures.

Elaborating on demand management, Rota suggested that to tackle local road congestion, Malta must introduce a parking reform, congestion tax, and incentives to promote remote/hybrid working where appropriate.

Rota also stated that "a sharp population rise to the scale forecast by Minister Clyde Caruana (800,000 by 2040, if current trends continue) would place severe pressure on the current road network." Hence, the NGO said that "with the projected population numbers, high-capacity transit is a must." It added that developing a major public transport backbone "will entice active mobility commutes given the shorter travel distances."

Questions relating to promoting sustainable mobility, the C-SAM network, reducing car dependence across the country, and other similar themes were sent to Rota and the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works respectively.

Congestion tax relates to charging drivers a fee to pass through busy areas during peak hours as a way to discourage private car usage, thereby reducing traffic and pollution. Back in 2016, Transport Malta had stated that it had "no intention" of introducing a traffic congestion tax or any other form of tax on car movements in Malta. The Transport Ministry said that at present, authorities are trying to ameliorate public transport and road infrastructure without considering any "punitive measures".

According to NSO, during Q3 2025, a net increase of 36 new motor vehicles entered the country every day on average to raise the total stock of registered vehicles up to 454,138 vehicles - up 3,344 vehicles over the quarter. Rota commented on the ever-increasing number of vehicles that "this is clearly unsustainable as already visible on our road infrastructure today" and that "without a serious push towards a modal shift, the infrastructure cannot cope with this growth, and congestion, pollution and quality-of-life may only get worse."

The NGO also told this newsroom that road expansion alone is not a sustainable solution to the sustained influxes of road vehicles. It said that "building more road space without changing travel behaviour generally delivers only temporary relief." Resultantly, Rota observed that European cities abroad show that "high public transport investment plus strong active-travel policy and parking restraint produces better outcomes than roadbuilding alone."

While Rota called for increased e-mobility, the Transport Ministry said that it is content with present incentives to promote the transition to cleaner modes of transport - so much so that all such incentives have been extended to next year. The Ministry cited that Malta recorded the second highest share of electric vehicles in newly registered vehicles in 2024, out of all EU countries; 37.7% of new registered cars in Malta last year were electric vehicles, only trailing Denmark (51.3%).

In this regard, the Ministry also declared the government's intention to electrify the bus fleet in Gozo. Earlier this year, the government found itself in hot water after it became apparent that it had foregone some €41 million in EU funds that was earmarked to replace around 100 diesel buses for electric ones and provide them with charging infrastructure. This money was instead diverted to some €34 million in grants for electric vehicles, according to the Labour Party at the time.

Need for a major public transport backbone - the metro cannot come sooner

While recently taking questions from journalists in late November, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the government has approved the next phase of studies to analyse key components of the long-awaited metro project. He admitted that these studies will cost "a substantial amount," though he defended this approach and said that if the government had to get the metro plan wrong by not carrying out these studies "by the best people," then this could "ruin a country," thus echoing Finance Minister Clyde Caruana's concerns that Malta would be "royally screwed" if whatever major capital project is implemented - metro or maybe a tram network - goes wrong.

Responding to questions sent by this newsroom, the Ministry for Transport said that these updated studies on the mass transport system, building on the 2021 assessments, "are currently underway and will assess feasibility, economic models and geotechnical conditions." The ministry added that "this is in line with the government's position with a priority to provide realistic alternatives and improved infrastructure before looking toward any form of punitive measures."

Studies for the metro project initiated in 2017, with the metro proposal announced in 2021, just before the election. The original metro project was planned to cost €6 billion and be fully underground; updated "hybrid" plans (parts underground, at street level, and over undeveloped land) have slashed projected costs down to a still enormous €2.8 billion.

When it was first announced, the first phase of the initial metro proposal related to the full construction of its northern line between Pembroke and Naxxar. This was set to cost nearly €4 billion alone. This first phase was said to require between five to eight years to be completed, meaning that had these works began during the last general election year, 2022, then the general public could have expected to have this first full line by the end of this decade.

How can we bolster sustainable mobility in Malta?

To better support alternative modes of transport, the government commenced works for the C-SAM cycling and active mobility network "as part of a broader push to offer to improve infrastructure and safer routes" - in the ministry's words.

Infrastructural works for the C-SAM network - a coherent cycling network of designated lanes - began this summer. This project should be completed by 2028 and it will cost around €27.4 million.

Rota welcomed the commencement of these works towards having an "island-wide active-travel network rather than isolated cycle lanes," though the NGO stressed for routes within the C-SAM network to meet internationally accepted design standards for safety and for them to form continuous connections, instead of having disconnected sections. It also pleaded for stronger project management as sections of this project have already experienced construction delays.

"Where necessary, routes must be fully segregated and designed with adequate cycling lane widths to ensure user safety," Rota said.

The NGO commented that while the government has taken important steps in this regard, it stated that "there is a long way to go." It said that attention is required towards enforcement to safeguard active mobility commuters; that Malta has no single legally binding national cycling design standard in force that prescribes minimum lane widths, separation types and other requirements, and that adopting internationally tested manuals would raise baseline quality; that infrastructural changes must be complemented with campaigns and driver education to improve road behaviours; and called for the implementation of measures "that actively disincentive short private-car trips, such as a parking reform."

To further promote sustainable mobility across Malta and Gozo, Rota also proposed the introduction of average-speed cameras and stronger enforcement to reduce excessive speeding; "presumed liability/safer system laws to shift road risk calculus in favour of vulnerable road users"; fiscal incentives, such as tax breaks or allowances, for those cycling to work, grants for businesses to adopt cargo bikes for deliveries, and stronger subsidies or VAT reductions for e-bikes; adding more bicycle parking and related facilities in schools, workplaces, and transit hubs; and constructing "fully segregated main corridors where speeds and traffic volumes are high" to create safe contraflows through village cores.

The NGO observed that European cities that embraced these elements have shown "rapid modal change," i.e., positive results to reduce car dependence.

The government also told this newsroom that all financial incentives introduced last year are being carried over into 2026, including the VAT refund on bicycles, the €500 grant on pedelecs and reductions in licence tax for motorcycles.

The Transport Ministry continued that also as of next year, the Surrender Your Licence scheme and the Scooter Shift Grant will be introduced to "further encourage a shift from private cars." The Surrender Your Licence scheme is the famous €25,000 incentive for individuals to give up their driving licence for five years. Meanwhile, the Scooter Shift Grant is a scheme whereby drivers may renounce their car and licence in favour of a scooter for four years; a similar scheme will also be introduced for 17-year-olds to delay acquiring their driving licence by four years.