Car drivers and motorised bicycles

Peter Montebello (Vehicles Small And Large, June 7) questions whether motorised bicycles are, or should be, licensed and insured. What is Mr Montebello worried about, that a bicycle will damage his car and that he will not be able to claim any damages except through a court case? What about the injury sustained by the cyclist, which is obviously much more probable in any accident with a car? Mr Montebello does not seem to be at all concerned about this; he is only concerned with tracing the "bicycle and/or its owner" after an accident! In an accident with a car, the cyclist will usually end up on the ground, so Mr Montebello should not be unduly concerned that the cyclist will run away. As the risk of personal injury in any accident with a car is much higher for the bicycle rider, the cyclist is usually much more careful on the open road. In fact, car-bicycle accidents are usually caused by the inattention, carelessness or arrogance of the car-driver.

Mr Montebello's attitude is symptomatic of some car drivers, who have no consideration at all for cyclists, and treat them as a nuisance who should not be sharing the road with proper vehicles, i.e., cars. Mr Montebello is obviously a car user. However, can Mr Montebello please state whether or not he is a regular bicycle user?

With respect to motorised bicycles, the only difference between a motorised bicycle and a "normal" one is the small motor, petrol-driven or electric, and the energy supply (fuel or battery). So there is not much difference in the total mass. In fact, the total mass of a heavy rider on a normal bicycle can be more than a light rider on a motorised bicycle. With respect to speed, the speed attained by a normal bicycle going downhill can be as much as 65kph or more. So the kinetic energy, a major factor in accidents, can be about the same for both types. Therefore, using Mr Montebello's argument, should we also institute licenses and insurance for non-motorised bicycles? Is this Mr Montebello's solution to reducing the ever-growing congestion on Maltese roads?