Commuters, Ahoy! Marthese Cini that commute to Malta for work are
would lose its character and identity.
for transport geographers,
classified as extreme commuters.
The fast ferry service was popular
especially on island archipelagos.
My research showed that the
with Gozitans who worked in or
Small islands like Gozo depend on
average Gozitan commutes around 4
near Valletta. Commuters were also
outside links for their infrastructure.
hours per day. For daily commuters,
satisfied with the addition of the
My (Marthese Cini) research study
that’s 20 hours per week. In European
fourth ferry, since this considerably
focused on Gozitan commuters
countries such as Sweden, the
improved the existing ferry service.
working in Malta and the recent
Netherlands, and France, as well as
discussions on ‘connecting’ the
the United Kingdom and Switzerland,
decision makers. By taking various
islands. Specifically, I studied
commuters who face long trips
considerations, economic, social,
whether a ferry or a tunnel would
(more than two hours, minimum
and environmental into account,
be more suitable for their needs.
three times per week) total between
it becomes easier to develop a
5 and 10% of the commuting
strategic solution that addresses
It’s needed to work, shop, and visit
population. Gozitans are commuting
Gozitan concerns. Should we look
friends or family. Travel is commonly
longer than most of Europe!
at the short to medium term gains
Travelling is central to our lives.
seen as a burden that takes time and
There are few publicly available
This research can help inform
of implementing a faster ferry
money. People’s travelling behaviour
studies about Gozitans’ concerns
service, or should we look at the
is important to consider. It can help
over travel time and their attitude
longer term costs and benefits of
identify and understand which mode
on infrastructural changes. In my
constructing an underwater tunnel?
of transport commuters use the
research, I sent a questionnaire survey
The answer isn’t simple, but it
most and why, as well as the reasons
to 350 Gozitan commuters. The
requires research to answer.
behind certain destination choices.
majority of commuters were against
To decide on their mode of travel,
the building of the proposed tunnel
This research was carried out as part
commutors consider the distance of
(63.7%) and were in favour of a fast
of the Master’s Degree Programme
the trip and its purpose, travel time,
ferry service between Valletta (in
in Geography at the Faculty of
safety, perceived comfort, service
Malta) and Gozo (65.7%). If a tunnel
Arts, University of Malta under the
quality, and other factors. Gozitans
was built, participants felt that Gozo
supervision of Prof. Maria Attard.
STUDENTS
T
ravel time studies are important
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