How to discourage cycling

So now it is official, electric scooters have been banned from our streets, but motorised e-bicycles are to be allowed on the roads (October 10). The pedal bicycle has been dragged into the scene and is now subject to the same restrictions as motorised bicycles.

Fair enough; after all, one cannot disagree in principle that bicycles should not be ridden on promenades. But rigid enforcement of this restriction would only be reasonable if cycle paths or lanes were available on our main roads.

What is not clear is the situation in regard to children and youngsters riding bicycles on pavements and promenades. Are youngsters permitted to ride bicycles on promenades? If not, where are they going to learn how to ride this marvellous machine?

If our government has not had the foresight to incorporate cycle lanes when major roads were refurbished, is it correct to force the cyclist on to roads with heavy traffic? Even though there is no specific legislation in regard to the safety and rights of cyclists on our roads in general, riding a bicycle is quite safe in Malta but there are certain main roads where it would be madness to mingle with the traffic.

It is on these roads that the problem arises - and a cyclist would be well advised to keep off them. Thus, if a journey from A to B involves using a busy dual carriageway, then a cyclist would be justified in using any available pavement; the only alternative would be to leave his bicycle at home and use his car. Adult cyclists are so few and far between that the occasional cyclist on pavements or promenades has never caused any inconvenience.

The important point raised by this new development is the following: Is the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) ever going to do something to encourage cycling? Up until now the ADT has done absolutely nothing at all. This is disgraceful when one considers the prevalence of obesity on our islands and the total dependence of everybody on the car.

The long overdue regularisation of the position of electric bicycles was a welcome step in the right direction. On the other hand, considering the total absence of encouragement of cycling from the ADT (and from the ministries responsible for the environment and for health), the cyclist deserves better. First provide cycle paths and lanes to encourage cyclists, then ban them from the pavements of main roads. In the absence of cycle paths very few novice cyclists will venture out on the open road - this will be a very unfortunate consequence if the new regulation is applied rigorously.