Mark Anthony Sammut, Shadow Minister for Transport and Mobility, in a statement on Saturday, said that the measures announced today by the 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.”

He went on to say that while some of the incentives announced today, such as encouraging people to use motorcycles instead of cars, “could make sense if properly implemented, the PN believes these must be accompanied by an action plan to improve safety and reduce road hazards.”

Sammut insisted that “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,” the Shadow Minister said. “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.”

He pointed out that “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 is pleased to note the idea of a dedicated cargo ferry to Gozo from ports other than Cirkewwa. 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remain on paper, and that this service is operated with a modern vessel equipped for today’s needs, rather than an outdated ship like the MV Nikolaos,” said Sammut.

The PN said that it also welcomes “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. “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,” said Sammut.

Sammut added that “the Minister said that anyone who wants to exit the scheme before completing the five years would have to repay not only the funds received but also any additional money not yet claimed. A person who surrenders their driving licence and later applies for a new one after having returned it would be required to retake the driving test as if they had never held a licence.”

The PN said that it 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.”

“If the Government continues to ignore the need to shift our economic model away from one that relies on uncontrolled population growth, and towards one based on quality, then in a few years’ time all these measures will be worthless, as the traffic problem will still be staring us in the face,” stated Sammut.

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