Bikes, Scooters And More: All The Alternative Transport Malta’s Lost In The Last Five Years
In recent years, a number of innovative transport platforms launched as alternatives to private car use have come and gone.
With the government introducing a new law restricting work permits for third-country national cab drivers and Bolt Malta hitting back at claims that it’s using prices as blackmail, we take a look at all the alternative transport options that left the island in recent years.
GoTo: A brief encounter with car-sharing
GoTo offered a promising solution to the island’s over-dependence on private vehicles. Launched in late 2018, GoTo’s electric cars and mopeds could be rented and returned to designated parking spots, offering a flexible and eco-friendly alternative for commuting.
Despite initial optimism, the company announced its withdrawal from Malta in September 2022, citing “lack of user uptake” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial reports from GoTo Malta revealed that the company had been struggling with losses since its inception. By the end of 2020, GoTo Malta had accumulated a pre-tax loss of €730,000, following a €270,000 loss in 2019. The pandemic severely impacted operations, leading to a steep decline in usage and, consequently, financial unsustainability. Shareholder dissatisfaction, combined with operational challenges such as high costs and limited charging infrastructure, contributed to GoTo’s departure
Nextbike: Cycling’s faltering ride
Another transport alternative, Nextbike, faced its own set of hurdles before announcing its closure in December 2022. The bike-sharing service, which boasted 400 bicycles across 60 stations, struggled with competition from ride-hailing services and free public transport. The pandemic further compounded the challenges, leading to decreased usage and financial instability.
Nextbike’s difficulties were compounded by theft, vandalism and inadequate urban cycling infrastructure. Despite providing cycling education and showing potential in the market, the service could not sustain itself under the prevailing conditions. The company’s exit showed a need of better government support and infrastructure to promote cycling as a viable transportation method in Malta.
Cool: The ride-sharing experiment
Cool, Malta’s first ride-sharing platform, also fell victim to the challenges facing alternative transport solutions. Established in 2019, Cool aimed to offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly mode of transport by pooling passengers heading in the same direction.
However, like GoTo and Nextbike, Cool struggled with financial viability.
The company announced its closure in January 2023, attributing its decision to a lack of government incentives and support. Cool’s departure was part of a broader trend, reflecting the difficulties faced by mobility services in Malta without substantial policy backing.
E-Scooters
The latest blow to alternative transport came with the government ban on rental e-scooters that took effect earlier this year. The decision, driven by concerns over safety, misuse, and community disturbances, sparked debate among stakeholders.
E-scooter operators, including Bolt and Bird, had sought to engage with authorities to address these issues constructively rather than through legal action.
However, Transport Minister Chris Bonett defended the ban, citing concerns over the misuse of e-scooters and their failure to replace cars effectively.
However, he has promised new incentives to promote the purchase of e-scooters for personal use, aiming to balance the removal of rental services with support for individual ownership.
Do you remember these services in Malta? What would you like to see introduced here?