Saturday, 8th November 2008
Bicycles cheaper but roads are narrow, unsafe
In this budget we are told that we should start using a bicycle, to avoid pollution. It makes sense but it is very dangerous to use a bicycle in Malta, when a lot of our streets are so narrow. We are lucky to have sidewalks on some of them, never mind enough space for a bicycle to pass through.
Holland and Belgium have thousands and thousands of bicycles, but they have bicycles paths everywhere and they also have the right of way. Here not even pedestrians are safe; even on marked areas, motorists often don't stop for someone to cross.
I believe that it's very unsafe to drive a bike in the narrow streets. We go shopping for groceries, take the children to school, go to church etc. all in our local areas where the streets are narrow and where one has to stop in a house entrance at times, so a car can go by.
I personally like to take public transportation more than drive for I feel safer and don't have to pay for parking, but there are times when you can't. I am not sure that it is safe to advise the use of bicycles in our narrow streets, as even the pavements are narrow in most areas.
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Briefly: Re Narrow streets : Narrow streets exert a traffic calming effect and are safer – it is wide streets (or one-way streets) that can be dangerous because carsare driven faster – for wide streets - I simply ride on the pavement.
For instance I regularly cycle to Valetta all the way on pavements (sliema>Gzira>Msida>Pieta>Bombi & > Floriana ) & it’s wonderfully relaxing. On the other hand if I need to go, say, to Fgura I go trough the (narrow-ish but ultra safe) back streets of Hamrun anjd Tarxien & do the Aldo Moro bit on the pavement. So with a bit of imaginations and ingenuity you can devise routes which are away from fast and heavy traffic or even away from traffic altogether.
Re Holland & Belgium – ah yes, Don’t I know it! --- Ditto Denmark where I lived for a long time..
If any of you want to know what needs to be done in malta to encourage cycling - write to gdmc@kemmunet.net.mt for a copy of the famous report I delivered to the PM -- ON A BIKE. (remember?)
G
Most of them cost under 100 euros, so why all this fuss because you will be spending a few euros less?
I remember years ago when I used to visit Holland several times a year on business I was impressed on the facilities the bicycle riders had. A Dutch manager once told me that the laws are so much in favour if the bicycle rider that in an accident it is almost impossible to win a case unless the bicycle rider admits that it was his/ her fault. He continued that the car drivers are double and triple careful when driving close to bicycles.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081107/letters/some-environment-friendly-budget-measures-are-socially-unjust-2/
one must also consider that some distances make it impractical to use bicycles. I for one, have to travel from Naxxar to Hal Far on a daily basis, with a laptop and sometimes some heavy technical books, which I have to take home with me and back to work the next day. Moreover, the public transport to Hal Far leaves much to be desired, as currently, I will have to waste at most three hours daily, to and from the office if I had to take the bus. Shall I consider that as another expense on my side. after all, time is money too.
But are our roads safe for it??????
And what about going to work, carrying laptops and papers?
And what about going shopping?
Come on - let's be practical! How about Ministers going to Valletta on bicycle?