GSLP-Liberals-Manifesto-2019

Environment/Tourism], we will then be
reviewing connections between Little
Bay and Europa Point for pedestrians/
cyclists which will avoid the use of
Keightley Way tunnel, if possible.
If this vision can be made a reality, and
we are confident that we can deliver
this initiative, cyclists and pedestrians,
children included, will have a way of
reaching as far as Orange Bastion
in town on their bicycles without
interacting with traffic. We will then
direct cyclists wishing to access
Waterport and, in particular, the
new Comprehensive Schools, down
into Casemates to emerge in Market
Place before making their way up
Waterport Road. As an alternative to
the city walls as a route, the creation
of the new parks along Queensway
and the provision of a new connecting
path/light road connection between
Queensway South and Rosia Road
(avoiding Ragged Staff and the Trafalgar
Interchange will provide another
alternative and safer route for cyclists
pedestrians, maximising the appeal of
these forms of transport over cars.
CYCLING INCENTIVES
At the last Budget Session, a cash back
incentive was given to purchasers of
e-bikes, something which will be builtupon
in the future to help encourage
the further purchase of e-bikes. In a
place with the topography of Gibraltar,
e-bikes are able to “flatten” our hills
making cycling a real and viable
alternative for Gibraltar to those who
are inclined to do so.
Further incentivisation will be
considered for the purchase and use
of E-Cargo Bikes in Gibraltar to assist
those businesses to adopt these
modes of delivery and transport.
CYCLING PROFICIENCY
TRAINING
(PEDAL READY - GIBRALTAR)
As of this school term, all cycling
proficiency courses will follow the
UK National Standards for Cycling
Training. This year 6 individuals
followed a Cycling Trainers Course.
Traditionally cycling training locally has
been carried out in school playground
and only offered to school children.
The course taught young children the
skills of balance and basic highway
56 ...aspire to the best Gibraltar
code in a safe but unreal environment.
The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) have
traditionally been the leaders in such
a useful initiative and all praise goes
to the wonderful work that they have
done for so many years.
BICYCLE SHARING SCHEME
The Redibikes bicycle sharing scheme
started in May 2017 has now been
operational for over 2 years. Generally,
the concept of bicycle sharing has not
taken off as one would have hoped
for although usage continues to rise.
Close to 5000 bicycles have been
rented out over the full operational
time period. The slow rate of adoption
could be due to a wide variety of
reasons including, but not limited to
the lack of segregated cycle lanes,
user reservation regarding personal
safety and Gibraltar’s hilly topography.
As usage is assessed and following
the introduction of segregated cycle
lanes in the near future, consideration
will be given to shared e-bikes as an
alternative or addition to the present
Redibikes Scheme.
E-SCOOTERS
Having concluded a public consultation,
the GSLP Liberals are now embarked
on a review of the submissions received
during the consultation. A couple of
matters are clear: the free for all has
to stop; and we cannot summarily turn
our backs on what might potentially be
one of the key future elements of our
transport ecosystem. We cannot, as
a community, seek to ban or exclude
the proper and safe use of personal
electric transportation devices in
Gibraltar without careful and due
consideration. Our location and the
nature of our workforce requires us to
think outside the box.
WALKING MAPS & SIGNAGE
Gibraltar’s small size and good
weather makes it an ideal place to
walk, especially for any trip within the
West Side and the centre of Town.
The walking environment must be
pleasant to encourage people to want
to walk instead of driving. Next term,
the GSLP Liberals have exciting plans
for the continued beautification of
the urban environment, all of which
will make walking in Gibraltar even
more appealing.
Walking signs will form part of the
urban landscape where visitors will
be able to see walking distances and
approximate walking times to points of
interest with the view of attracting less
private car use.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Safe walkways provide the necessary
means to help encourage people to
walk to places in safety. They also offer
safe pedestrian passage to bus-stops for
longer trips therefore providing access
to alternative modes of transport.
Generally, around the more modern
areas of Gibraltar, the provision of
pavements is adequate. Nevertheless,
in many areas of the “older” Gibraltar
including the Upper Town and parts
of the South District and Europa,
providing safe passage for pedestrians
is more challenging and could, in some
areas, perhaps even be technically
impossible without drastic modification
of the road itself and its use.
The GSLP Liberals will work closely
with residents to find meaningful
solutions which will enhance the
walking experience for pedestrians
in areas including, but not limited to
Chatham Counterguard, Europa Road
and Prince Edward’s Road. A review
has already begun to assess different
options, where possible, of providing
segregated footpaths, an example of
which was very successfully carried out
along Europa Road (south) between
Buena Vista Bus-stop entrance and
Trafalgar Heights.
PARKING MANAGEMENT
RESIDENTIAL PARKING SCHEMES
Gibraltar’s size and unique
characteristics will always be a
challenge when it comes to parking
and vehicle ownership. Nevertheless,
the slow introduction of the Residential
Parking Scheme within Zones 1, 2
and 3 have proved to be a positive
step when addressing the immense
problem that parking has become over
many years.
No serious attempt has ever been
made to tackle the local parking issue,
not least because it is not popular to do
so, but it is right that it should be done
as this will bring about improvements
to both the local parking problem and
our environment.