The Sustainable Traffic, Transport and Parking Plan was published in March 2017 after a few years of research in Gibraltar by traffic specialists Mott MacDonald.

The plan is based on the development of a new transport model for Gibraltar and evaluation of different options for improving the current traffic, transport and parking situation, with a view of encouraging behavioural change and effecting a shift in modal transport towards more sustainable alternatives.

The Plan contains a wide range of different measures aimed at reducing the impact of traffic congestion, improving air quality and improving safety for people travelling in and around Gibraltar.

Expect improvement in bus services, far tighter controls on street parking, the introduction of residential parking permits, cycle lanes and higher quality pavements. Line Wall Road could close to public traffic. There’s even a recommendation to pedestrianise Fish Market Lane and the current bus station by Casemates.

The Gibraltar bicycle scheme and speed cameras have already been introduced.

Where, in my opinion, it lacks teeth, is facing up to the problem of car ownership, which the ‘Gibraltar system’ passively encourages. Yes, it’s great for us all to own lots of cars for convenience and enjoyment. However, the road network cannot increase its capacity, so with the ever-growing population and number of properties, when do we hit breaking point? Or have we already hit it?

As the report states, ‘Car ownership levels and the demand for car parking, particularly in residential areas, are higher than would be expected for an area and population density comparable with Gibraltar. Car ownership levels in 2016 are considered to be at a high level of approximately one registered vehicle per person; levels of around 0.3 to 0.6 would be expected. It is expected that with a continual growth in both population and GDP, both significant attributes that influence car ownership, Gibraltar’s car ownership ratios if remained unchecked are expected to rise.’ 

The Hon. Paul J. Balban MP Minister for Infrastructure and Planning states in his foreward: Gibraltar has an extremely high vehicle occupancy rate per capita, yet our largest constraint is our size. Reducing our reliance on private transport, our beloved cars and motorbikes, will be one of the hardest things to achieve but through encouragement, education and perseverance perhaps we may be able to achieve a change in the way that we move. By sharing vehicles, either by means of our buses, public services or through other more innovative ideas such as carsharing for example, we may be able to evolve. We cannot forget the importance of walking and cycling with regards to our traffic and our environment but also the undeniable and positive effect that it has on our general health, fitness and physique.

Yet, there are no real measures to curb the growth in car ownership, one of the underlying causes of the need for this traffic plan. No car tax, no disincentive to purchasing often unnecessarily large 4x4’s, or high emission diesel cars which are to be banned in various cities in Europe within a few years.  Such measures would be unpopular of course.

And I couldn’t find any reference to the local planning policy which forces the creation of parking spaces on developers of new properties. Often this is necessary, south district and east side dwellers need vehicular access to the town centre and place of employment.

However, more and more studio and one bedroom apartments are being built now and are in the planning process. Why? Because Gibraltar is responding to the demand for lower cost housing from employees of Gibraltar businesses currently forced to live in Spain. There is no need for a car for many of these employees who can walk, or cycle, to work and local amenities with ease. Yet planning rules require that the developer builds a parking space for each new residential unit and this does two things:

1. Adds around £25,000 to the cost of the property – not everyone can afford this

2. Adds to the ugly streetscape at ground level as in most parts of Gibraltar it is not possible to build parking underground

Whether the occupant of the studio or one bedroom apartment uses the parking space or not, it will inevitably be rented out to someone with a car that does use it. Another car which will use the roads which are already at capacity. Another car taking up invaluable space in Gibraltar that could be used for something more useful, or just an open amenity space for everyone.

What if the planning policy reversed, like it did many years ago in cities in the UK on developments close to public transport hubs? The cost of property would decrease. There would not be parking available for another new car. There would be less street level space lost to car parking.  These studios and one beds could be demarcated at land registry to be no car ownership properties. Instead, perhaps, a cycle or moped space could be provided instead, albeit not necessarily.

It’s a win win, and should in my view, be part of the Sustainable Traffic, Transport and Parking Plan.  

To help serve ‘carless’ properties, the nearest alternative form of transport, the taxi service, would have to improve. As the report states, the taxi service in Gibraltar “is more geared towards the daily cross-border commuter and tourist market than it is to local residents’ needs and that of the airport.” The report does not provide a solution (that I can find).

There are 112 taxi licences in Gibraltar. The same number as in 1984 according to the Chamber of Commerce. That, despite the number of visitors increasing from 2m to 12m in the same time with the addition of many more flights and 12,000 more jobs. No political party has addressed this imbalance which only serves to discredit Gibraltar in the eyes of business and leisure visitors. Most people I talk to have a theory as to how best to improve the service.  The one I like the most, was this idea, which involves granting each existing Gibraltar taxi licence holder a second Gibraltar taxi licence which:

1. Must be used (so they either sell it to a third party, give to a family member, employ someone to operate it, or, lose it) for a minimum number of hours a week

2. City service only – not Rock Tours

3. The vehicle must be a hybrid or designated low emission vehicle

224 taxis to serve those without a car. Another win win?

And finally, these ‘carless’ properties will require food deliveries from time to time. Well done to Eroski and Hungry Monkey for their home delivery services. Perhaps other shops will now follow suit.

For my more in depth analysis of car use in Gibraltar, please see my blog “All clogged up” which I wrote in June 2016.

You can read the full report here: The Sustainable Traffic, Transport and Parking Plan.