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I Went To The University Of Malta’s Sports-Ground-Turned-Car-Park This Morning And Here’s What I Found

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After following the situation with the University of Malta’s sports ground / car-park situation for a couple of days now, it made sense to finally head to the place. At 6:45am, dressed in sportswear, my headphones plugged in and no expectations, I walked to the university track.

I’ve got to admit, I was both pleasantly and disappointingly surprised by what I saw.

1. The world was actually alive

Just as any 6am-er would tell you, things are happening in the world at sunrise. The buildings had an orange tint and the sun shone strongly. And at this morning hour, all other car parks at the university were just starting to fill out.

Car Park 1

2. The Sports Ground was already filling with cars

Car Parks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were not even close to being filled up. Yet some cars took position and made it onto the football field. Never mind the empty space outside the football field (on the actual car park of the sports ground); these guys wanted to take centre stage.

Thankfully, that didn’t stop a couple of early risers from carrying on with their morning running plans.

Car Park 6

Cars parked on the football field behind the runners

3. There were parking cones and a parker

There’s a man in a little yellow vest doing the exact opposite of what the people in the same yellow vests are doing in Paris – he’s helping the system. He’s aiding the car-users by directing the cars onto the sports ground.

As we joggers circled him as we ran our laps, one word entered our minds each time: “fool”.

Car Park 7

This photo was taken last Monday at 5:30pm. This morning at 7:00am there were less cars and a lot more cones.

4. I wasn’t the only person running

Leg users! These guys had also made the realisation that morning that their feet work and they can be used to move them at different speeds.

Grouped up or jogging and walking alone, these people did what people do on a racetrack – they ran.

Car Park 2

5. And some fellow joggers even cycled to the racetrack

After all, it is a protest against the use of cars. So these people cycled to university… and then ran.

And that got me thinking; if these people can cycle and then run 10km, I can surely cycle to my lecture without getting tired. Right?

Car Park 4

6. Today wasn’t the only day the racetrack was used

Many seem to think the above given the fact that the Sports Ground seems to be in such a deplorable state, but this simply isn’t the case.

There are families that go there to kick a ball with their kids on sunny days, athletes who use the track to train after or before lectures and the University sports club (MUSC) President who had started a project to build sports teams to be in place for when the regeneration of the sports complex was completed.

And now, these activities are being stopped to make space for cars.

Car Park 3

7. There’s an empty, unused carpark literally 30 seconds away from the sports ground

Just before the tunnel from the sports ground and to your left, you’ll find a little ramp that leads up to a large, empty space. It kind of looks like a car park.

But here, you’ll find no parkers, no parking cones and no signs saying that there’s a car park. What you will find is the odd car that’s managed to spot it.

Car Park 5

So, University of Malta, there’s your answer to the parking crisis: an actual space for parking that can be used as a car park while the construction (and the running) goes on.

Sign this petition to stop the University Sports Ground from being used as a car park!

READ NEXT: This Maltese Student Conducting Research On A Drowning Island Explains Why The University Car Park Issue Is A Big Deal

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