Well being of teens and older kids
Encourage children to walk or cycle to school, sports activities or private lessons. Marketing campaign targeted towards parents and the community to oversee and assist in reassuring parents.
Children are happier when they have more mobility independence. In contrast, "Maltese children are not satisfied with their lives... lack of freedom and lack of participation in family decisions, lack of enough public spaces to play and lack of safety in the neighbourhood... low level of physical exercise, and concerns about the future" https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/news/2020/09/cres-study-maltese-children?utm_source=update&utm_campaign=update&utm_medium=email&utm_content=other
9 Comments
I am personally pro cycling, but recently I am noticing a significant vehicle increase on the roads which results in more pollution in the air. This makes me wonder if the government is actually trying, I am seeing more incentives to get a vehicle rather to go green, this needs to change. Keep up the good work!
2NGOs like Rota are doing great work and putting pressure on our governments to change this but I agree with you that change needs to come from our governments by offering better incentives and adequate infrastructure. I invite all citizens who are pro-cycling to join the Rota community .. the more we are, the more power we have to make our voice heard. Also invite all your friends to contribute to threads like this one to create a better future for our kids ;) Kids deserve to be healthy, happy and free to move!
Find more info about the NGO Rota here: https://wiki.greentrips.eu/categories/research-initiatives/page/rota
1Hi there! This campaign is really needed to get the children here in Malta out and about! It would help greatly on their well-being, self-esteem and development! It’s great you are part of creating a positive outdoor culture here!
1Cycling is a good idea. However in Malta it is complicated due to hills and heavy rains in winter
1It would be great for this to be second nature for us as a culture. But I think the roads are a bit dangerous for kids to cycle to school. Not enough bike lanes or space for bike lanes.
1Also I do agree that kids are not happy with their lives here. Before we had the space and the freedom to run around outside and play in fields , and go be kids outside with friends. But now it's so built up everywhere in alot of neighborhoods it's much harder for them. It does not come natural to them especially growing up in the digital age 😑
1I'm an ex sports coach and regular cycle commuter and keen on walking. But when I look at what's being designed as a built environment, it's certainly not encouraging active travel or exercise. Centres and core lack open space while roads are hostile to walkers and cycling is only for the brave. It shouldn't be that way. We are building infra that makes cycling and walking more difficult, less efficient and attractive. Camouflaged as sustainable but really just making car travel non stop while bike and walking infra is circa 1970's stop, start, stop. We need to change our planners and mindset, we are going backwards.
1Hey thank you for your comment. If you have any specific suggestions for specific locations, we would like to invite you to start a new thread and see where the conversations takes us ;)
0I totally agree with encouraging kids to be independent with travel if they are old and responsible enough.
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