Cyclists and pavements

Ms Valerie Sansone wrote about adult cyclists 'speeding' along the Tower Road pavement in Sliema (The Sunday Times, May 14). Even though she betrays a certain bias against cyclists, I sympathise with her, but with one very major reservation - her comments apply to an ideal world.

In an ideal world major roads have cycle paths for cyclists so that cyclists do not have to mingle with heavy vehicular traffic. In an ideal world there is also legislation which helps make cycling in traffic safer.

This is not to say that Malta is an unsafe place to cycle. Motorists are very courteous to cyclists and allow them space on the road. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of our lorries and buses which pose a definite threat to cyclists; and this includes our (usually red) minibuses. Thus cyclists do not hesitate to share the road with motor traffic on minor roads.

On the other hand, cyclists soon discover that they have no choice but to use any available pavement on main roads frequented by buses or heavy lorries. The Sliema Front is a particularly nasty stretch of road for cycling, the vehicle lanes are narrow and bus traffic is frequent.

Ms Sansone can rest assured that adult cyclists are not an aggressive lot. Adult cyclists do not 'speed' and are not reckless when riding on pavements. Youngsters and children are more likely to 'speed' on pavements and may pose a threat to pedestrians but possibly less than one would imagine as they have very fast reflexes. In any case, in the absence of cycle paths, youngsters and the not-so-young have no choice but to get used to riding bicycles on our pavements.

Unfortunately there is, in general, no encouragement for our young to take up healthy physical activities like cycling, with the result that childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. I once wrote to a minister (after attempts over many months to find accommodation for a youths' windsurfing club in Sliema were thwarted by ridiculous bureaucracy): "It is easier for our youngsters to drink alcohol or take drugs than to indulge in healthy pursuits." This still holds true.

It is also curious to observe how people complain more readily about visible minor threats while disregarding other very real but less visible threats to our health such as from lack of movement and vehicular pollution. The increased incidence of cancer and premature deaths due to traffic emissions are a statistically proven fact.

This poses an infinitely greater but invisible threat than the occasional cyclist on a pavement, but everybody remains complacent as we are too addicted to fossil fuel and our cars. Added to this is the carnage on our roads due to traffic accidents. On the other hand, accidental injuries to pedestrians caused by cyclists, even on pavements, are rarer than hens' teeth or even non-existent.

The use of bicycles is on the increase in Malta. Every bicycle on the road - or on a pavement - means one car less on the road. Ms Sansone, please be tolerant until our government starts to make suitable provisions to encourage cycling.

Finally, on a personal level, I use a bicycle rather in the same way as others use a car. I only use my car if I have to transport something large or heavy - or if it is raining. I cover between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres a year, so I do my little bit for the environment by not polluting our atmosphere and I avoid adding one-two tonnes of carbon dioxide to our atmosphere every year.

It also keeps me healthy and I get the added bonus of never having a parking problem (or fine). Malta would be a less polluted and more ideal world if only our ADT would encourage more people to leave their car at home when travelling short distances by catering for cyclists. Maybe Ms Sansone can help me in lobbying for cycle paths where youngsters (and oldsters) can develop the bicycle habit in safety? It would also get those nasty adult cyclists off her pavement.

At 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, there was a near-accident when a route bus forced an Italian cyclist (presumably a tourist) off the road in Sliema. The incident took place on Tower Road, at a point between Barracuda Restaurant and the petrol station. When the cyclist tried to remonstrate with the driver at the next bus stop, a fight broke out between the bus driver and the cyclist.

Such incidents are not uncommon and this kind of behaviour from bus drivers toward cyclists cannot be tolerated.

Could any witnesses of this incident kindly phone me on tel. 2134-2089 or e-mail: gdmc@kemmunet.net.mt, especially if they noted the bus's number.