Car Free Day 2012 will be held on Sunday 16 September 2012 with the participation of nine local councils and five voluntary organisations. These will be organising activities to raise awareness on the impact of cars on our lives, the economy and the environment.

There will be numerous sporting events related to the promotion of car-free sustainable mobility such as walking, cycling and running, cultural and artistic events such as street performances, and exhibitions, recreational and leisure activities for families, activities involving children and youth as well as other activities related to car free day.

The events are being supported by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The participating local councils include Naxxar, Mosta, Birgu, Fgura, Floriana, Hamrun, Mellieha as well as Xewkija and Nadur in Gozo. NGO’s include Friends of the Earth, Inspire Foundation, Bicycle Advocacy Group, Dun Bosco Oratory and Clear Dimension. Forming part of a Europe-wide campaign, Car Free Day is a great opportunity to reflect on our excessive dependence on cars and the choices that can be made to alleviate this dependence.

With over 743 vehicles per 1,000 population, Malta ranks 5th in the world and 2nd in Europe when it comes to car ownership. Speaking at the press conference launching the initiative, Minister Mario de Marco highlighted the health and environmental impact of our excessive reliance on cars, particularly in terms of air pollution, use of land and resources and generation of waste. He stated that Car Free Day is a voluntary initiative aimed at creating awareness on the environment and on alternative means of transport.

The Minister added that “Government is implementing a number of major initiatives, such as the public transport reform which had seen the replacement of old polluting buses with a new fleet conforming to latest EU environmental standards and the car scrappage scheme which aims to incentivise the replacement of older vehicles.

“These are efforts aimed at improving air quality and traffic management. Mario de Marco said that environmental initiatives require a joint effort and encouraged the participation at community level. He said that Car Free Day is therefore also beneficial in bringing together stakeholders and the general public to organise activities and raise awareness on the environment.”

The Chief Executive Officer of MEPA, Ian Stafrace thanked the participating local councils and voluntary organisations for their initiative and encouraged the public to participate in the events.

Information on Activities organised on Car Free Day 2012

Local Councils

Keen to get their residents moving, the nine Local Councils participating in the event will be organising a host of activities ranging from fun runs, bicycle races and zumba sessions in Naxxar and Mosta, a charity car-boot sale and a roaming restaurant serving traditional local food in Nadur while the Nadur and Hamrun Local Councils will also be organising a variety of traditional children’s games such as bocci (marbles) and passju (hopscotch).

The Nadur Local Council will be closing to traffic, St Peter & St Paul Square, December 13th Street, Archpriest Martin Camilleri Square and 28th April Square between 9.30am and 10.30pm.

The Birgu Local Council will close the core of the city to traffic and encourage cycling or walking, with the added bonus of taking in the gems of this historical city. Activities in Fgura start early, with healthy breakfast served from 7.30am, followed by sports activities for all ages. One of the busiest streets on the island, St. Anne Street in Floriana, will be closed to traffic and transformed into a fitness centre, with an outdoor gym and various activities, while the Mellieha Local Council will be organising bicycle races, a fun run and guided walks to promote alternative modes of transport.

Voluntary Organisations

Environmental organisation Friends of the Earth invites amateur photographers and writers to send in photos and articles providing lively impressions of travel around the Maltese islands using alternative means of transport, to develop a documentary which will be shown on the organisation’s website (http://www.foemalta.org/), blog and Facebook page.

The concept of ‘Cycle for a Cleaner Future’ will be taken to new levels by NGO Inspire, which will hold a 15km cycling event and a 10km fun-run, with a fun twist as participants are encouraged to come up with original modes of environmentally friendly transport.

The Don Bosco Oratory Youth Committee, in Victoria Gozo, will base its activities, which range from street football to a photo treasure hunt with bicycles, in Victoria and Marsalforn in Gozo.

In Victoria, a street Football Tournament will be held in St Augusting’s Square between 9.00am and 12.00pm. There will also be an Antique Photo & Painting Exhibition in Palm Street at the same time. A Photo Treasure Hunt on Bicycles will depart from St Augustine’s Square at 10am. In the afternoon there will be Water Games in Upper Reppublic Street which will get underway at 2pm. A trackless Fun Train will also be in Victoria, departing from Republic Street, near to the Post Office, every hour from 9.30am to 12.30pm, which will tour around Victoria.

In Marsalforn there will be a Street Variety Show in Marina Street Promenade, from 4.30pm to 6.00pm, including dancing and singing. A trackless Fun Train will depart from Marina Street, every hour from 1.30pm to 6.30pm, which will tour around Marsalforn and Qbajjar.

Clear Dimension Training Centre will bring art and dance together to highlight the concepts and objectives of Car Free Day, while an adult training session aimed at those who have never developed cycling skills will be organised by the Bicycle Advocacy Group at Ta’ Qali.

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