https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/2686 2026-05-23T13:59:08Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/140661 Title: Car dependence and the concept of lazy : understanding the impact of pedestrianisation on car dependency reduction in a European island Abstract: Across the globe, the shift towards cleaner, active modes of transport has been recognised as a crucial step in improving the quality of life of people. This transition in urban communities is essential to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address health risks from sedentary lifestyles. The study examines the reliance on cars for short, walkable trips, focusing on Malta, a car-dependent small island state. Through the application of the Perceived Exertion Theory (PET) and Lazy User Theory (LUT), the research investigates how time, money, and perceived physical and mental effort can influence travel choices. A mixed-method approach provided insights into travel behaviours and the potential for street interventions to encourage active travel. The quantitative analyses primarily included multiple linear regression, mediation models and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The study’s findings reveal a significant relationship between perceived effort and car use for short trips, with mental effort and time identified as critical determinants. While respondents exhibited significant correlations between walking frequency, car use frequency, and distance thresholds, the mediating role of perceived exertion was only evident in the case of walking frequency. Notably, habitual car users in Malta were not affected by the perceived exertion associated with walking. However, walking frequency partially mediated the relationship between perceived exertion and distance thresholds, suggesting that individuals who walk more frequently are less averse to physical effort. On average, participants in the study reported a walking distance threshold of 1.3 km or approximately 16.93 minutes. These results align with the concept of "x-minute cities", which advocate for urban planning that enables access to daily needs and activities within 15–20 minutes of walking or cycling. This study highlights the complexity of transport mode choices, shaped by physical, psychological, and environmental factors. The qualitative data collection through stakeholder interviews, workshops and a virtual urban living lab were key to exploring the community’s response to pedestrian interventions and urban transformations. These approaches examined the barriers and facilitators to promoting active transport, with a digital platform serving as a participatory tool for gathering community feedback. The participants expressed a strong desire to engage in the planning process and contribute to shaping their urban environment. By incorporating community perspectives throughout the urban mobility interventions and experiments, their active participation can help address resistance to change and foster a sense of ownership in the community. The study emphasizes the need for multi-dimensional strategies to promote active travel in car-centric settings, such as enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, creating engaging public spaces, and offering reliable mobility alternatives. Using Malta as a case study, it highlights the unique travel dynamics of small, car-dependent island states and provides insights into sustainable mobility. By addressing barriers and leveraging motivations for short-distance active travel, the research offers policymakers guidance to reshape urban mobility to improve quality of life. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/132488 Title: Assessing perceived walkability through pedestrian experiences using a citizen science approach Abstract: There is a growing body of literature suggesting that studies on the walkable environment cannot be abstracted from its social setting and should be assessed through the citizens who experience it. Pedestrian perceptions and experiences towards the walkable environment should play an integral part in studying, planning and designing public space. But unlike predominant walkability assessments based on objective observations and measures, pedestrian-centred approaches based on subjective and qualitative experiences require new ways of observing, measuring, analysing and interpreting the walkable environment. This study proposes an innovative research methodology based on a pedestrian-centred walkability assessment, in which participants simultaneously share georeferenced experiences and other observations on the walkable environment as part of their daily routine. As a result, this method provides a new way to assess perceived walkability supported by related objective data that add more precision, reliability and further insights to the study. On the one hand, a conceptual operationalisation of the perceived walkable environment based on four indicators (perception of safety, comfort, pleasantness and vibrancy) allows pedestrians to systematically share experiences in a structured way. Thus, pedestrians can rate perceived walkability through the following dichotomous variables: safe or unsafe, comfortable or uncomfortable, pleasant or unpleasant, and vibrant or dull. On the other hand, participants can include objective observations to identifying any type of components or characteristics of the walkable environment considered relevant for their experiences. A perceived walkability index is developed to combine all these data and assess the degree and spatial distribution of perceived walkability. Furthermore, pedestrians’ observations on the walkable environment are analysed to identify the most relevant environmental determinants that influence their experiences, both a positive and negative way. Sentiment, content and spatial analysis provide a better understanding on the underlying relationships between the walkable environment and pedestrian experiences. The study applies citizen science principles in participatory walkability research to engage and maintain volunteers, ensure data quality and the long-term viability of the project. It also explores the benefits and challenges of using WhatsApp as the main technological infrastructure for continuous data collection and communication during the project. This approach is empirically tested in a case study in Malta, where every day pedestrians shared information about how different elements and characteristics of the walkable environment influence their walking experiences. At a national scale, safety was the most relevant type of experience shared by pedestrians, with significantly more unsafe (70%) than safe experiences (30%). The main determinants linked to unsafe experiences were absence or poor pavements, exposure to traffic and lack of crossings, whereas safe experiences were mainly related to wide pavements, public parks and no or low exposure to traffic. However, results varied considerable between different localities and at street scale. Results show which areas are considered pedestrian-friendly and which require improvement in safety, comfort, pleasantness or vibrancy, while identifying the most relevant determinants influencing such experiences. This can greatly assist policy and planning by prioritizing areas and specific interventions towards a more pedestrian-friendly Malta. Despite some challenges for data collection, process and analysis related to large citizen social science projects, the results of the case study proved the suitability and effectiveness of this innovative method for community research projects on walkability, especially for local case studies. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/119013 Title: Towards a zero-carbon future : investigating the barriers that are limiting the adoption of electric vehicles in the Maltese islands Abstract: As part of the national strategy in promoting sustainable development, the Maltese government is encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles in the Maltese Islands by providing consumers financial incentives. Yet, electric vehicle ownership results to be still very low. This study provides an understanding of the main barriers that are limiting the adoption of electric vehicles, considering also the effectivity of the vehicle's purchase price and running costs on consumers' decisions. The efficacy of current financial incentives is also evaluated to establish if such incentives are determinant in incrementing sales. Data collection was performed utilising an online questionnaire to individuals of 18 years of age and over, including both consumers who possess a driving licence and those who do not. The questionnaire survey was structured in three sections: the demographic section, Likert Scales and stated choice experiments. The demographic section gives a picture of the demography of the sample population, also providing valuable information in establishing the trends and patterns associated with electric vehicle purchase among different socio-demographic groups in the Maltese society. Likert scales evaluated consumer attitude, perceptions and knowledge towards electric vehicle adoption while stated choice experiments focused on economic factors considered as barriers in the adoption of such vehicles. The data obtained from the questionnaire survey was processed statistically employing crosstabulation, Chi-Square tests and the Multinomial logit model. Crosstabulation evaluated the association between individual socio-demographic variables and electric vehicle purchase, while Chi-Square tests examined the significance of each association. On the other hand, the Multinomial logit model assessed the effectiveness of purchase price, road licence cost, fuel/charging cost and battery replacement cost on the choice of the type of vehicle purchase. Furthermore, the statistical output was also supported by various graphical representations. This study concludes that purchase price and running costs result to be influential in determining consumers' decision on whether to purchase or otherwise an electric vehicle. Knowledge about such vehicles is still limited among the general public, therefore effective informative campaigns are necessary to increase awareness and reduce perceived risks associated with electric vehicles, which may arise when consumers perform purchase decisions based on heuristics (assumptions based on mental shortcuts). The findings of this research may result helpful when designing policies which aim in promoting an increase in the adoption of electric vehicles in the Maltese Islands, thus, contributing in reaching the target of carbon neutrality. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/118999 Title: Electric vehicle use and its influence on travel behaviour in Malta Abstract: The use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) has long been encouraged to enhance environmental sustainability. This is because as opposed to conventional vehicles, EVs produce no exhaust gas emissions from their tailpipes and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly if the electricity is produced from renewable energy sources. While many studies suggest the widespread use of EVs due to its benefits on the environment, other studies suggest the opposite. This is because the benefits of EVs have raised some concerns as switching from an ICEV to an EV may alter the travel behaviour of its users. Therefore, this study analyses a variety of travel behaviour outcomes as it looks at how the use of EVs affects daily travel among EV users in Malta. This study explores whether the widespread use of EVs influences the travel behaviour of the driver as it compares the number of weekly trips performed by EV drivers as they transition from driving an ICEV to an EV. Through the distribution of a survey, the results suggest that EVs are perceived by the respondents to be more environmentally friendly than other transport modes. However, according to the results EV users make more trips when driving their EV. Overall, the major findings indicate that the widespread usage of EVs in Malta has an impact on EV users' travel patterns, which may in turn exacerbate Malta's ongoing issues with traffic congestion and parking shortages. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z