L-iffullar eċċessiv fuq il-karozzi tal-linja, kif ġie rrappurtat f’diversi okkażjonijiet mill-midja fl-aħħar xhur, huwa sintomu ta’ sistema tat-trasport li għalkemm hemm domanda qawwija għalija qed titħalla ‘l isfel fil-prijoritajiet tal-gvern meta mqabbla mal-aġevolazzjoni kontinwa tal-karozzi – li dejjem jingħataw prijorità fit-toroq u fl-infrastruttura. 

Sandra Gauci, Chairperson tal-partit sostniet li ADPD ilha tinsisti li l-pedament tas-sistema tat-trasport għandu jkun trasport pubbliku effiċjenti, affidabbli u veloċi li jingġata prijorità fit-toroq. Għalhekk il-partit ilu jipproponi l-introduzzjoni ta’ sistema ta’ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), b’korsiji dedikati għall-karozzi tal-linja, rotot aktar diretti, prijorità fis-sinjali tat-traffiku u servizz ta’ frekwenza għolja. Dan jagħmel it-trasport pubbliku alternattiva vera għall-karozza privata u jista’ jitwettaq ferm aktar malajr u bi spiża iżgħar minn proġetti kbar li jieħdu snin twal biex jitlestew. Dawn il-proposti huma bbażati fuq il-prinċipju li n-nies għandhom jingħataw prijorità fuq il-karozzi.

Jekk irridu nnaqqsu t-traffiku, irridu nkunu lesti nieħdu deċiżjonijiet kuraġġużi. Il-Gvern ilu snin jonqos milli juri dan il-kuraġġ. Jibqa’ jibni toroq usa’, iżda fl-istess ħin jibża’ jagħti prijorità reali lit-trasport pubbliku billi jalloka spazju fit-toroq għall-karozzi tal-linja. Sakemm il-karozzi tal-linja jibqgħu mwaħħlin fl-istess konġestjoni tal-karozzi privati, ma nistgħux nippretendu li jsiru l-mirakli u f’daqqa waħda jsiru effiċjenti. 

Ma nistgħux ninjoraw l-impatt ta’ turiżmu esaġerat fuq l-infrastruttura tagħna. Numru dejjem jikber ta’ viżitaturi jżid il-pressjoni fuq it-toroq, fuq it-trasport pubbliku u fuq is-servizzi essenzjali. Il-politika tat-trasport trid tkun marbuta ma’ politika sostenibbli dwar it-turiżmu u l-ippjanar tal-pajjiż.

Proposti bħal taxis irħas jew saħansitra b’xejn jistgħu jidhru attraenti għall-ewwel daqqa t’għajn, iżda huma soluzzjonijiet finta li jkomplu jsaħħu l-mentalità tad-dipendenza fuq l-karozzi. Jekk iżidu aktar vetturi fit-toroq, il-konġestjoni tkompli tiggrava, filwaqt li ma jlaħħqux mad-domanda. Il-vera soluzzjoni hija li nagħmlu t-trasport pubbliku l-aktar għażla konvenjenti u effiċjenti, flimkien ma’ aġevolazzjoni ta’ mezzi alternattivi u nodfa ta’ trasport f;toroq aktar sikuri, bħal roti, roti elettriċi u scooters.

Spiss nisimgħu b’soluzzjonijiet ‘maġiċi’ bl-użu tait-teknoloġija u l-intelliġenza artifiċjali. Filwaqt li dawn jistgħu jgħinu fl-immaniġġjar tat-traffiku, żgur ma jistgħux isolvu l-effetti tan-numru dejjem jikber ta’ vetturi fit-toroq, u jispiċċaw ma jsolvu xejn. L-ebda algoritmu ma jista’ jlaħħaq ma’ toroq mimlija karozzi waħda f’waħda. L-ebda algoritmu ma jista’ jissostitwixxi r-rieda politika li tingħata prijorità lit-trasport pubbliku, li jiġu nkoraġġiti mezzi differenti ta’ trasport li titnaqqas id-dipendenza fuq il-karozzi privati u li jinbena mudell ta’ mobilità sostenibbli għall-ġid ta’ kulħadd. Malta għandha bżonn tmexxija li tieħu deċiżjonijiet kuraġġużi, mhux slogans jew soluzzjonijiet finta ta’ malajr. Il-bidla hija waħda fit-tul u diffiċli, imma jeħtieġ issir.

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Public transport and alternative transport are not a top priority for the government

Excessive crowding on buses, as reported recently on multiple occasions in the local media over the last few months, is a sign that public transport is in high demand, but is at the bottom of the list for a government that chooses to prioritize the use of private vehicles.

Party chairperson Sandra Gauci said that ADPD – The Green Party has long insisted that the foundation for a holistic transport system is having an efficient, affordable, and fast public transport system that is given priority on the roads.  That is why the party has long proposed the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), with dedicated lanes for buses, more direct routes, priority traffic signs, and frequent bus service.  This would truly make public transport an alternative to private car usage, and this can be done in relatively little time and at a fraction of the cost of projects that would take years to finish.   These proposals are based on the principle that people are given priority over cars.

If we truly want to reduce traffic, we need to be ready to take bold decisions.  The government has shown very little courage for many years.  Wider roads are built, but at the same time, this shows a reluctance to prioritize public transport by allocating space for the necessary lanes.  Until buses are stuck in lanes shared by private vehicles, we cannot expect miracles to happen and expect efficiency overnight.

We cannot continue to ignore the impact that overtourism is having on our infrastructure.  The increase in visitor numbers is putting pressure on our infrastructure and other essential services.  The politics of transport needs to be aligned with a politics that considers sustainability essential to tourism and urban planning for our country.

Proposals such as cheap or free taxis may seem to be attractive at a glance, but they are hollow solutions that would increase dependence on car usage.  Increasing the number of vehicles on the road would lead to greater congestion whilst failing to meet demand.  The true solution lies in making public transport the most convenient and efficient choice, together with a variety of other modes of transport – clean transport – on safer roads, such as bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters.

We frequently hear about magical solutions that can be attained through modern technology and artificial intelligence.  Whilst we hear much about how these can improve traffic management, it is a fact that they cannot solve the impact that the ever-increasing number of vehicles on the road will have, and in the end, will not solve anything.  No algorithm can keep up with every road and the cars they bear.  No algorithm can help political goodwill prioritize public transport or encourage alternative means of transport that would reduce private car dependence whilst building a model of sustainable mobility for the greater good.  Malta needs leadership that takes courageous decisions, not empty slogans or solutions that offer short-term relief.  Change will take time and will be difficult, but it needs to be done.