Shared mobility services in Malta : user needs and perceptions

Abstract

Malta is a small island state home to nearly half a million inhabitants. It is a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean, with visitor numbers totalling 2.6 million in 2018. There are 799 vehicles for every thousand inhabitants and the modal split shows a 74.6% reliance on the car. Ownership and use of private cars are at an all-time high in Malta. This dependence on the car has increased congestion and given rise to parking issues in many localities, taken-up limited space in the urban area, increased air and noise pollution, and created accessibility problems for pedestrians and cyclists. Shared mobility services (bicycle, car, scooter sharing) have been introduced in Malta very recently. Malta is one of the case study sites in the CIVITAS DESTINATIONS project, which focused on sustainable mobility in tourist destinations. As part of the project, a survey was conducted to understand the awareness and acceptance of these shared mobility services by Maltese residents (n= 1,100). Insights from this survey used to understand user needs and perceptions in light of such mobility innovations and what might encourage people to start using them as an alternative to private car use.