Pedal Power: Ride to Generate
Sadly, my hometown, Ħamrun, despite the improvements made over the years, still lacks open spaces for residents to use during the weekend. Most residents need some form of transport to travel elsewhere in order to enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon.
As the chairperson and founder of FC Ħamrun Amateurs (VO/2365), a thought is being discussed within our Voluntary Sporting Organisation is to introduce the concept of e-Bikes at our piazzas to promote sports and green energy.
Integrating e-Bikes at our piazzas can have multiple benefits for our local community. There are four (4) key aspects in which e-Bikes at our piazzas can contribute;
(1) Sustainably & Clean Energy – Improving our piazza facilities, while preserving the historical monuments, can serve as a tool to encourage residents to visit these areas on the weekends rather than travel elsewhere. This can help reduce the carbon footprint, as it eliminates the need for fossil-fuel-based transportation. Introducing e-Bikes that generate clean energy while in use can be an added feature, allowing people to charge their smart devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops. The remaining energy produced can be stored and used to light up the piazza at night.
(2) Promotion of Slow Mobility – By encouraging a cycling culture, eBikes can inspire residents to move at a slower pace, allowing them to enjoy their piazza surroundings while generating energy. This supports Cittaslow’s emphasis on reducing fossil fuel-based transportation and promoting quieter, healthier activities.
(3) Community Empowerment – The concept of generating electricity while cycling can serve as a education tool for all residents especially the younger generation in order to promote the awareness about sustainable practices. Also to give the chance to being involved in this innovate project and being hands-on to contribute to energy production.
(4) Supporting the Local Economy – By empowering the community to use these e-Bikes, we can introduce a feature that allows each resident to create a personal login account. This way, residents can log their workout sessions each time they use the e-Bikes. Residents will be able to see how many kilometres they’ve covered during the month and how much they’ve contributed to the community. A fun competition could be organised and hosted by the Ħamrun Local Council, where the top 5 residents with the most kilometres covered each month can win vouchers to enjoy a fresh, traditional meal at one of our local restaurants thus promoting the slow-food movement.
Integrating e-Bikes into the piazzas of Ħamrun represents a unique opportunity to foster a sustainable and vibrant community. By promoting clean energy, encouraging a culture of slow mobility, and empowering residents through engagement in this innovative project, we can enhance our local environment while preserving the rich heritage of our town.
