Paving the Way for Sustainable Commuting

LAURA SUE MALLIA, DIRECTOR RISK MANAGEMENT, POLICY AND EU AFFAIRS, TRANSPORT MALTA

Sustainability is the recent buzzword that we have all come to be familiar with and which has penetrated almost all aspects of our life. While many are ready to embrace a more sustainable way of living, this concept may still seem abstract to some. Putting this in the local transport context, there is scope for a shift to the benefit of the environment, citizens and future generations. Transport Malta is continuously striving to promote, implement and encourage the uptake of cleaner transport with initiatives being in line with the latest technologies and research. The latest National Household Travel Survey carried out in November 2021 showed that close to 75% of all trips are carried out using the private car and as the driver. Furthermore, a good share of the trips carried out by the sample population were for work purposes. This indicates that addressing transport to and from work has the potential of positively impacting our transport system both in terms of traffic flow where congestion is decreased and, also in terms of emissions and a better quality of life. One of the most effective ways of reducing transport related emissions is through the electrification of the vehicle fleet. In 2022, 20 million has been allocated to promote the purchase of cleaner modes of transport including Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Range Extender Electric Vehicles with grants available both for registering a new or a used vehicle. While the greatest focus has been on encouraging the electrification of private vehicles, the logistics industry and heavier vehicles are increasingly targeted. This is supported with micro mobility solutions which are low-cost and highly energy efficient. These include bicycles, pedelecs (electric bicycles where the rider’s pedalling is assisted) and e-kick scooters. While this form of mobility is a relatively new element to the Maltese Islands, it is proving its potential to penetrate through transport problems such as congestion especially in those areas which are prone to congestion and lack parking availability. Transport Malta embraces such new forms of alternative transport, understands the potential and takes an active role through stakeholder consultation and regularising.

Furthermore, Green Travel Plans have been found to have many benefits and on various levels. In a nutshell, both the business owners and the employees benefit from significant savings in terms of rising costs owning and maintaining a private vehicle. On the other hand, the community benefits from less congestion, time saving and improved air quality. In view of the current common practice of single user car travel for work purposes, businesses should seek to better understand the benefits of developing and implementing Green Travel Plans both as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts but also for the health and well being of their workforce. Whilst individuals might be interested in travelling more actively and sustainably, a lack of facilities such as for example showers, charging facilities and safe bicycle parking discourages such practices. In having a workplace which supports employees by providing such facilities there is increased benefit for all and further promotes alternative modes to the private car for the other employees who are hesitant making the shift. Other considerations may be remote working or hybrid solutions and the introduction of flexible working hours which enables employees to avoid travelling in peak hours.

Transport Malta, as the Authority responsible for all transport related matters, is available to support such initiatives through the sharing of knowledge and, also through grants which are available from time to time. This is the time to initiate change and companies are encouraged to take the lead and actively support their workforce in becoming more sustainable. No matter how small, each step towards the right direction is welcomed by the users, society, and our planet. M+S