Mizzi hails 'culture change' brought about by tallinja card

The introduction of the tallinja card has helped bring about a "culture change" in the public transport system, with passengers rarely choosing to purchase tickets directly off buses, transport minister Joe Mizzi said.

Speaking during the government's 'Gvern li Jisma' public consultation roadshow, Mizzi said that 75% of bus journeys are now paid for through the cards. Around half of Malta's population, including 70% of elderly people, are now in possession of a tallinja card, and 150,000 cards have been used at least once.

He added that an average of 350 new cards are still being issued everyday and that everyone who applies for a card now receives it in their mail after a maximum of 15 days.

He defended the new ticket pricing system, arguing that all bus fares have decreased if paid through the card, with the higher fares for tickets bought directly off buses a deterrent similar to what exists in other European countries. 

Moreover, he praised the card software as "probably the only one of its type in the world that automatically selects the cheapest fare" - the 75c for a single journey.

"The software itself is similar to that of other EU countries, meaning that it will be compatible with a potential future system whereby European bus cards will be valid across the continent," he added. 

Other than improvements in public transport, Mizzi said that he intends to reduce traffic by encouraging more people to shift from the car to the motorcycle.

He said that a Budget-announced scheme whereby car drivers will be able to ride motorcycles with a maximum capacity of 125cc without having to obtain an additional license has already generated "significant interest".

"Moreover, 125cc motorcycle license fees have been slashed to an annual rate of €10," he said.