Car free day in Malta a total Flop
Let’s admit it. Yesterday’s car free day was a total disaster. Most people did not even know it was car free day as there wasn’t much promotion. I only found out some days ago because I follow such initiatives closely. Some television news only talked about it a day before and interviewed people on the 22nd which was the official car free day. On newspapers the promotion was small, articles that one barely notices.
Car free day isn’t an invention by Maltese authorities; it is organized by the European Commission. A total of 2,049 cities took part.
When the times of Malta interviewed people yesterday, many admitted to not know it was car free day. This says a lot. What I and I’m sure also other people find strange, is that we were expected to take part in this initiative, without the proper alternatives to private transport. Some buses and routes are fine; others unfortunately are not so regular and reliable. Bicycle lanes are rather dangerous and end abruptly and that’s only where there are actually lanes. In Wales for example, the lanes are part of the road but on a different level, a bit more down. Sometimes with natural barriers such as trees diving the driving part from the cycling part. Other countries have other methods. We only need to see what applies for us.
It is true that Malta is small, but the number of registered drivers and cards is astonishing. The best things is probably to not have a car in the next couple of years, because with all the traffic it would be useless. Imagine a traffic jam in New York as seen in movies, that’s what we will become if we continue this way.
On the other hand, having a personal car might reduce the time of the journey and you have something to rely on in case of emergency. So it’s good to have a personal car, at least one per family, especially if it functions with alternatives to polluting fuel (but not electricity in here either, we’re not in Sweden where it comes from water). The solution, I believe, is to try to use it as little as possible one’s personal cars and in its stead car pool with other people who are going in the same direction as you, use public transport when possible and WALK! We live on such a small island that from Marsa to Gudja talks about one and a half hours, granted that the cars are not trying to kill you (this is check by yours truly, remember that accident to the Marsa bridge, I had just walked from Msida to Blata il-Bajda. At least I didn’t have huge schoolbags like some of the children I encountered on the way).
From Blata il-Bajda to Msida, stopping a little and continue all the way to Floriana Terminus at full speed and a really heavy bag tkes about ¾ of an hour. I could continue giving you estimations but I won’t. I find it fun to walk and who know it may cut some of the laziness and obesity that so many Maltese are bestowed with nowadays.
My final point is that everybody needs to work together ALL YEAR ROUND, so that we’ll have cleaner air. No need for me to explain the peril of pollution; if you’re reading this then you probably know. The state won’t do a thing if people won’t show interest. It is for the common good that we all cooperate, air and space (as in dimensions) are not changeable. We have to make do. And yes, if that means going a bit out of the way, I’m sure you’ll feel good afterwards.
Having said that, I don’t drive of course and I use public transport fairly regularly and as mentioned before I walk but yesterday I was in at the charity shop and I didn’t particularly feel walking up at 6 to catch a bust at 7 and then another one to arrive at Marsacala. I do however, go by bus half of the times, patience is not my virtue, I hate waiting. Let’s hope that the reform in the transportation system will be good.
Suggested Reading:
http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100923/local/car-free-or-carefree
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=112550
Interesting Site to see:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/04/bike-lanes-from-around-th_n_439274.html
Suggested Reading:
http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100923/local/car-free-or-carefree
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=112550
Interesting Site to see:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/04/bike-lanes-from-around-th_n_439274.html
PS: the article is exactly 700 words!!
I know the story of a person I will call person X since its his story and not my own. better keep some degree of anonymity.
ReplyDeletePerson X says that day Y+1 is Car Free Day. Therefore, person X makes plans to go with the car to place 1 which is closer to place 5 where he works. In place 1 he has family so he can sleep there and then walk it on Car Free Day to place 5. Unfortunately for that person on his arrival to point 1 which is on day Y turns out to be the actual Car Free Day and therefore he has just made use of his car on the Car Free Day.
After all the sadness of having made all the preparations to then be mistaken in the actual day person X goes ahead to sleep in place 1 and walk it to 5 on day Y+1. Return to sleep in place 1 and depart by car on Y+2 to go back home.
Moral of the story: Its the spirit which counts :) and Algebra is just there to teach us this!
True, if you do it by your own initiative when you want, it's really good. But imagine that only a handful of cars are being driven on car free day. that would have more impact becasue there would be less emissions at the same time. But it has to start with only a handful like that story of that kid doing 3 nice thigns to 3 different people and those 3 people in return help another 3 each. and those 9...etc
ReplyDeleteI agree with you though that it's the thought that counts. also some may find it inconvenient like teachers on their first day of school. My economics tutor said to me yesterday that he didn't even know and he watches new when he can on the 3 stations (the favourite part of my lessons isn't the actual economics but the debates we end up having, like yesterday we discussed the eu subsidies and poverty etc.) and he didn't even know it was car free day only found out in the morning. It's a shame really more people would ahve probably done it. I think if the media doesn't spread the word then we should. I mean on last sunday's newspaper that starts with a T there was an article on the pastizzi group on facebook that was bigger than the car free day one! that show you where they attention is.
Anyway thanks for the comment! nexy year we should make t shirts that say 'car free day' and at the back 'even if we don't drive'
Then I guess you've had discussions about the CAP, the reform of the CAP and the DOHA round?
ReplyDeleteTrade is a very political issue.