The measures announced this morning by Robert Abela’s Government fall short of offering real solutions to the traffic problem and fail to address the root causes: the excessive number of cars on our roads, inadequate infrastructure, the lack of an efficient mass transport service, and the absence of a proper framework for alternative modes of transport, the Nationalist Party said.
After learning that the Partit Nazzjonalista was planning a public event on traffic and transport for this coming Sunday, Minister Chris Bonett came under pressure to hold a press conference and announce some measures and schemes in an attempt not to appear reactive to the PN, the party said through its spokesman Mark Anthony Sammut.
While some of the incentives announced today, such as encouraging people to use motorcycles instead of cars, could make sense if properly implemented, the Partit Nazzjonalista believes these must be accompanied by an action plan to improve safety and reduce road hazards.
The Minister cannot simply come before the public with these schemes and say that once they come into effect, the Government will then assess what infrastructure is needed, while in the meantime asking other road users to be cautious around motorcyclists. This is not how a serious Government provides the peace of mind that the public, especially the parents of young people considering these schemes deserve.
If we genuinely want more people to use motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles instead of cars, we need to do much more to make our roads safer. This includes regular education campaigns, stronger enforcement, proper infrastructure for these means of transport, and legislation that offers greater protection for riders of two-wheeled vehicles. That’s why the Partit Nazzjonalista announced several proposals in this regard two months ago.
It is hardly reassuring that the same Government introducing these measures is unable to state its targets, how many cars it aims to reduce from the roads through these schemes, or by when, the PN said.
The PN added it is pleased to note that some of the measures it has been proposing for years have now found their way into Chris Bonett’s proposals. These include the idea of a dedicated cargo ferry to Gozo from ports other than Ċirkewwa. One hopes that such proposals won’t remain on paper, and that this service is operated with a modern vessel equipped for today’s needs, rather than an outdated ship like the MV Nikolaos.
The PN also welcomed other proposals it had already made, such as the National Walking Strategy, waste collection at different times, and changes to public transport routes to better serve employment hubs.
Regarding the scheme offering cash to those who relinquish their driving licence, the Minister clarified that one must also surrender their car licence. This is similar to a proposal made by the PN a few years ago, but we believe that for it to truly work, the Government should first have invested in a proper mass transport system and improvements to public transport. It is pointless trying to incentivise people to give up their cars if many still don’t have a viable alternative.
The Partit Nazzjonalista welcomes the news that the Government will finally launch a consultation on the National Cycling Strategy, something that was actually announced two years ago, and the revival of initiatives like the Walking School Bus, originally launched by the Malta Sports Council 20 years ago, which had disappeared in recent years.
It is good that the minister has finally admitted that there’s a lack of coordination in roadworks, in his own words, “the right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing.” We hope that now that the issue has been acknowledged, we will no longer see roads being dug up and resurfaced repeatedly, or multiple roads in the same area being closed at the same time, the PN said.