Sustainable modes of transport in Malta were the subject of a meeting between Independent MEP candidate, Arnold Cassola and the committee of the bicycle advocacy group, Rota .

Cassola stated that, “a sustainable mobility plan has never really been on the radar of the authorities. Successive governments have privileged car use over the years, but the past ten years the worsening situation has really escalated.”

He argued that ”out of the total 1 billion 300 million funds obtained from the EU for the period 2013-2020 the Maltese Government chose to spend 700 million euro on road widening, cutting of trees and multiple flyovers, more often than not ignoring the basic needs of cyclists, motor cyclists and pedestrians, not to speak of ensuring a punctual, regular and fully functioning bus system.”

”The end result has been that while ten years ago motorists were stuck in traffic for, say, half an hour, today, after the building of flyovers which have obliterated the natural face of our country and, after having taken up valuable agricultural land, they are stuck in that same stretch of road for three quarters of an hour,” he said.

Moreover, Cassola said that ”the former CEO of Infrastructure Malta is now under investigation both by the Maltese NAO and by the European Prosecutor, Eva Koovesi, for suspected corruption.”

He went on to say that ”despite this blatant failure in policy, the authorities persist in proposing new useless flyovers in Msida and Swieqi, that will not solve Malta’s traffic problems, but will only render the lives of residents more miserable, through noise pollution and worsening air quality. We must therefore work to stop this senseless road building and ensure that resident friendly.policies are put in place.”

Steve Zammit Lupi from Rota, stated that, ”as Rota, we appreciate independent candidate Arnold Cassola for meeting with us and prioritising cycling in his agenda. It is disheartening that during such a critical election period, cycling and transport have been largely ignored in the campaign debates.”

He pointed out that ”despite the European Parliament’s adoption of the European Green Deal and the Cycling Declaration, local MEP candidates have not discussed these crucial topics, and only a few have committed to supporting cycling initiatives by signing our pledge.”

”Malta, a small island just 27km long, stands to gain significantly from reducing car dependency and embracing active, sustainable mobility practices. Benefits which include cleaner air, better economic conditions, and reduced mortality rates. Active mobility is essential for our island to progress and meet European standards,” said Zammit Lupi.

He added that ”the misuse of EU funds to build roads that neglect active mobility must stop and any poor designs resolved. Additionally, our outdated Highway Code, unchanged since the 1990s, and the lack of presumed liability laws – currently absent in only four EU member states, including Malta – fail to protect cyclists adequately.”

Steve Zammit Lupi concluded by saying that ”the political landscape is frustrating, dominated by trivial disputes instead of meaningful progress. We need visionary politicians with the courage to challenge the status quo and drive positive change for our country.”

Photo: Arnold Cassola

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