It's World Car Free Day! Join the worldwide cause that will turn heads & stop traffic
The Maltese and their cars are inseparable, unfortunately. Now even though there’s pride and at times genuine love for a vehicle, there are a great number of reasons why opting to go car free today will contribute to a better environment for the country.
September 22nd is known as World Car Free Day and is intended to encourage drivers of all private and commercial vehicles to steer clear of their vehicles for the day. With 45 new cars finding their way to our roads in Malta on a daily basis, it would be pretty neat to have a day where traffic, exhaust and an unlimited amount of road rage were reduced or, even better, eliminated altogether.
Getting around Malta and Gozo without a car might seem tedious or possibly even disheartening to a good portion of the population but there are so many ways you can ditch the steering wheel and there are so many perks that will draw your attention away from the windscreen and rear view mirror to the more aesthetic things in life.
Catch the bus
The public transport service in Malta, provided by the Tal-Linja fleet, may have its fair share of infamous stories but it’s all about your frame of mind. Let’s say you need to make your way to work on a Monday morning in September. The traffic will probably be quite unbearable due to school transport and daily commute but you can make the most of it by heading out a little earlier to beat the traffic, give that dusty book on your bedside table a good read and even take some time to clear your mind before you start the day.
Your journey might be longer but you’ll also manage to save money with fares ranging from €0.75 for Tal-Linja card holders to a summer rate of €2.00 and winter rate of €1.50 for two hour journey tickets. Your parking problem is solved in an instant and you’ll even be able to get a good bit of exercise into your day.
Top tip: download the Tal-Linja app to plan your route and check on the arrival time for your next bus - WiFi on most buses makes this pretty possible too.
Ride your bike
Whether you have one or not, riding a bike in Malta is a serious possibility. There are a selection of services you can opt for such as the Tal-Linja bike service or even the Next Bike public sharing bike collection. Download the app for Next Bike to get your ride sorted, with 400 bikes across the islands, 60 stations to choose from and four possible membership options, getting around town won’t be so dreary with your favourite tunes playing on your headphones and the wind rushing through your hair.
You’ll also be able to take scenic routes that could serve as shortcuts to your final destination and even brighten your day with the beauties of Malta’s countryside lanes. Be careful though - you’ll need to respect the cars on the road and allow them to have full access to a clear path. Keep to the sides and make sure your music is not too loud; signal and take a peek behind you before maneuvering suddenly.
Top Tip: get yourself a helmet and other protective gear to make sure you’re as safe as can be, oh and a backpack with easy access pockets and possibly even a good Bluetooth headphone set to pair with your phone.
Walk around or go electric
Apart from the obvious health benefits of walking around and moving your tired joints, walking clears the mind and allows you to think less like a robot and more like a creative. Let your thoughts run wild as you walk briskly along the promenade, through the little lanes or even around your village or town.
If walking isn’t really your jam, maybe an electric scooter or skateboard could be a fun alternative. This could be a good investment if you’re looking to cut out the standard motor wheels for a while; you’ll get around faster and look pretty fly while doing it.
Top tip: remember to keep yourself hydrated and safe from the sun while travelling around; you may even want to pack yourself an extra t-shirt before you hit the office. Just because you’re helping the environment doesn’t mean your colleagues have to suffer the stinky consequences.
There are nearly 400,00 cars in Malta and the air pollution in this country isn’t going to get any better if we keep on guzzling fuel at the rate we’re going. Use Car Free Day as a challenge, a global initiative to make little, yet effective, changes to our country’s roads and opt for cleaner travel throughout the year. You’ll feel so good about it if you’ve got your head in the game.