Having a car doesn’t give you freedom – not having a car does

Take a drive down memory lane - to fond memories of your first car. It was your first love. And even if it ate all your savings, it was worth every cent – because in return, it gave you so much more. It gave you freedom. The freedom to go wherever you want, any time you want. The freedom to change plans. The freedom to drive on and on, listening to your kind of music – rather than have to invest in a conversation with a stranger. The freedom to not having to pay for a ride.

Mind you, your first car wasn’t perfect – but then, a first love usually isn’t. Which is why after a few years, you decided to upgrade to a modern, more fuel-efficient car that reflects your new status. Again, you had to contribute most of your savings – and last year’s performance bonus. But then again, isn’t a new car a worthy investment?

The cost of hours spent stuck in traffic.

Maybe it is. But then again, maybe it isn’t – because a car is not a one-off investment. Rather, it is a recurrent expense. The cost of fuel isn’t getting any cheaper – and if you’re late to work or to a meeting, it’s best to opt for paid parking, rather than having to hunt down a free parking space. Then there’s the cost of the garage that you rent. It all adds up. 

Not to mention the wasted time and productivity, courtesy of hours spent in traffic because of roadworks, or simply because there are too many private cars on the roads – with NSO statistics for the last three months of 2024 showing that the number of vehicles on Maltese roads increased – on average – by 27 every day. 

So the reality is that it’s not your first car that is worth it – rather, it’s your last one that gives you the greatest benefits. All around Europe, people are getting annoyed by the cost of ownership of a car, including insurance, fuel and parking – and by the time-heavy investment that a car requires. And so they are opting to let go of car ownership - and instead just hail a ride. 

Riding is the new driving.

It is not just young people who are taking this conscious decision – people from all walks of life have started driving less, have given up on car ownership, or even ditched plans of ever owning a car. This shift didn’t begin with Gen Z – millennials are already driving less, owning fewer cars, and putting off having a driving licence.

As a result, priorities are changing – and car ownership is no longer considered a defining status. Cities are changing too, with less cars, a cleaner environment, and the kind of urban planning that puts people first, and not cars: think green spaces, bike lanes, pedestrian zones and fewer cars. 

Because if there is a worthy alternative, you do not need a car. And that alternative is riding, which gives you all the benefits of driving. You still get to work on time - probably earlier. You still have to freedom of going anywhere. But without the hassle of car ownership. That’s why riding is the new driving.

Sponsored content by Bolt