Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party has accused the Government of “over the top proposals on electric scooters.”

In response to today’s announcement of the new proposals by Transport Minister Ian Borg and Transport Malta, AD in a statement said that, “it is the wrong response to a new way of travelling that is less harmful to people, our towns and villages and ultimately to the planet than cars.”

AD went on to say that “instead of reducing the space for cars on roads, the ‘car agency’ Transport Malta and the Minister for Transport want to clamp down on low-carbon mobility and introduce ridiculous charges on scooters which do not take up space on roads, do not pollute and are far less dangerous than cars.”

it argued that “this is not about regulating the use of space by electric scooter hire companies, but on clamping down on road users who happen not to be using a car.”

“A limit on the speed of electric scooters is understandable, however the proposed requirements for registration, for insurance and above all for electric scooter users to be obliged to have a car driving licence is over the top and downright silly,” said AD.

Ralph Cassar, AD Secretary General and spokesperson for transport and infrastructure said, “the Government should be bending over backwards to encourage and facilitate new ways of getting around that are good for our health, for our congested towns and ultimately for the planet.”

“Instead of encouraging this, the Government is making the take-up of clean and inexpensive forms of mobility difficult. It refuses to introduce low emission zones, it is building roads without infrastructure for alternative mobility, it is removing bus lanes and making commuting by bicycle and electric bicycles difficult,” he added.

Cassar went on to say, “on top of all that it is now proposing ridiculous rules on electric scooters. What’s next? Will we require insurance to step outside?”

“Those who choose alternatives to cars for commuting, including teenagers too young for a driving licence, need support from the Government” he said. “Any safety concerns around the use of scooters need to be addressed through education but above all through making our roads safer and increasing space and areas which are off limits to cars.”

Cassar argued that, “the real concern should be road safety and the total lack of enforcement of traffic regulations, from haphazard parking, to dangerous driving. Maybe Minister Borg should start implementing the Transport Masterplan 2025.”

He concluded by saying that “maybe he could get Cabinet to approve the banning of high-emission vehicles from our towns and city centres, instead of fixating on clean electric scooters. Maybe he should just implement sustainable and climate friendly transport policies.”

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