Budget fails to promote bicycle use – AD

Budget 2014 has failed to promote the use of alternative means of commuting, Alternattiva Demokratika said. The Green Party also questioned Malta's progress in attaining EU 2020 target to double the use of bicycle. 

It however welcomed a number of positive points such as the differentiation in registration and circulation taxes on smaller cars as well as the emphasis on air quality.

"Yet, there was nothing that enhances the use of alternative means of commuting such as the bicycle. In this respect, it is difficult to see how Malta can attain the 2020 EU target to double the current use of the bicycle," AD said.

AD's spokesperson for sport Clare Azzopardi Lane said more holistic measures such as reducing tax and import duty on sports equipment and services, should be adopted.

"These would help everyone, from the person looking after his health through fitness to the local sports person, international competitors, associations and federations," she said.

AD noted that investments in the Marsa Sports Club and the Birzebbugia Waterpolo Club had long been pending. It suggested that investment at the Birzebbugia Waterpolo Club would benefit other watersports such as swimming and canoe-polo.

AD also said that from the €11.7million allocated for the University of Malta, funds should go towards renovation and maintenance of the University's running track.

It criticised the fact that the budget failed to give "enough detail and figures" about the scholarship scheme and the funds allocated to sports.

"The incentive towards more professionalism in sport which is only assisting Malta's richest sport - football - should be extended to all other sports," AD said.

"All sports disciplines should be treated equally and thus supported whilst reducing tax rates for football players does not help Maltese sport holistically."