Speaking to ECF, Minister for Transport Hon. Paul Balban MP stated: “By joining forces with the Ministry for the Environment […] we embark upon this mission…to reduce our dependence on the car as a means of personal transport and for deliveries within our city. The 15-minute city in our small city, Gibraltar, is a target which is wholly attainable.”

Initiatives, efforts and incentives

Key initiatives include fiscal incentives for electric vehicles – including e-bikes – complemented with preferential parking zones in the city centre. A Park & Ride scheme will ensure bikes are available for the last-mile commute and a tax credit will be introduced to promote the installation of electric vehicle charging points.

In acknowledging the increase in the use of the bicycle and its potential, Gibraltar aims to achieve cycling investments of £10 per capita. Coordinated efforts and educational incentives are also directed to support and encourage cycling organisations to aid in the promotion and awareness raising of cycling as a healthy and sustainable mode of transport, to encourage further bicycle uptake and expand awareness and safety programmes. As part of a Ride-to-Work scheme, tax advantages and leasing arrangements will help employers in promoting cycling as a mode of transport for their employees.

Furthermore, incentives and special access will be put in place for cargo bikes to boost cycle deliveries. An interactive website will also be developed to provide information and assist cyclists in locating the closest bicycle-parking racks available. Safe and responsible use of bicycles will be promoted through “Pedal Ready” (Gibraltar), a scheme offering cycling proficiency courses to help improve cycling skills. This initiative is not only available to children but also adults who have never had the opportunity to learn.

Completing this set of measures, a new boost will be given to the Redibikes bicycle sharing scheme. Segregated cycle lanes will be introduced and consideration will be given to shared e-bikes as an alternative or addition to the present scheme.

Disincentivising motorised vehicle usage

The Minister for Transport continued to outline cycling’s key role in the plan, stating that “Bicycles have stood the test of time. They preceded the car and will surely outlive it. As a means of transport, cycling is a truly sustainable alternative with very low carbon emissions. A device that will serve to help save our planet from a climate emergency while keeping us healthy, fit but above all else smiling.” 

To complement the new cycling measures mentioned above, more initiatives are to be introduced to disincentivise the use of cars. Among these are no-idling zones, e-scooter schemes and an import ban on diesel or petrol motorcycles and cars that do not meet the latest emissions standards. A carbon tax and a higher import duty for polluting vehicles will also attempt to discourage their use.

The measures outlined in the new strategy also reinforce ongoing initiatives, such as increasing pedestrianised areas, enhancing sustainable travel options and continued management of car use through “Program of Mobility Management” measures. Import duty exemptions and fiscal incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles will continue to encourage a more affordable green transition, while policy measures will regulate the emission of black smoke from ships.

Paul Balban signed off by saying: “We now embark on our journey, one taken by many other cities before us, a journey that will try to provide a real alternative by building safe and meaningful cycling infrastructure. A journey fraught with challenges as change is always hard to accept, but one that will aim to improve our environment.”

The Ministry of Transport Gibraltar is a member of ECF's Cities & Regions for Cyclists Network (CRC). CRC brings together local and regional administrations, actively working to promote cycling as a mode of transport and leisure. For more information on the network, on current members and how to join, visit our Cities & Regions for Cyclists Network page.