How accessible are our streets? Active Travel Workshop in Rabat

The Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (ICCSD), in collaboration with the Western Regional Council, hosted the final Active Travel Workshop in Rabat on Friday 24 October 2025. This marked the conclusion of the Nudging Active Travel Project in the Western Region, led by Prof. Maria Attard (ICCSD). The workshop also served as an opportunity to present the Italia-Malta CHORAL project, which explores the links between sustainable mobility, local heritage, and community well-being through the implementation of walking and cycling signage in the Southern Region of Malta. Heritage Malta contributed to the success of the event through an engaging digital and interactive component, showcasing the role of technology in connecting people with heritage.

The session began with a short introduction from Neil Muscat (Western Region) and Karyn Scerri (ICCSD), who highlighted the importance of active travel and community participation in creating healthier, more sustainable towns. Raffaella Zammit, a PhD candidate at ICCSD, then introduced the aims and structure of the workshop, inviting participants to reflect on the everyday experience of walking in Rabat. Participants were divided into small groups to explore the town through four interrelated themes: Objective Safety, Perceived Safety, Urban Nature, and Walkability. Each group took part in a 20-minute guided walking discussion along a circular route around Rabat, observing aspects such as pedestrian crossings, street lighting, greenery, and comfort. The walk encouraged participants to notice what makes walking enjoyable, safe, and accessible for all members of the community, including children, older adults, and people with mobility challenges.

Upon returning to Triq San Pawl, participants engaged in a co-production session, working together around large printed maps to identify challenges, good examples, and ideas for improvement. Using colour-coded markers, they annotated the maps to highlight areas that could benefit from better pedestrian infrastructure, more greenery, or improved accessibility. Conducting this activity directly in the street by temporarily occupying a few parking spaces also drew the attention of passersby, who were welcomed to listen, observe, and share their own thoughts.

To close the event, Heritage Malta presented an immersive virtual reality experience of the Grand Harbour, offering participants a unique digital journey through one of Malta’s most iconic landscapes. The demonstration illustrated how innovative tools can enhance accessibility and engagement with cultural heritage while complementing sustainable travel initiatives.

For more information on the active travel routes in the Western Region, please visit our webpage.