Editorial
Daily hazards cyclists face on the road
The public rightly reacted to the tragic news of the death on the road of an experienced cyclist with great sadness and a profound sense of outrage. Not only was Clifford Micallef a consummate cyclist but also a charitable one who died just days before joining a Lifecycle team on another marathon to raise money for the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.
A 21 year-old motorist from Ħamrun has been charged with Mr Micallef's involuntary death as well as with driving under the influence of drink and while uninsured. The rule of law demands that the case is left for the courts to handle.
However, tragic accidents of this sort draw stark attention to the dangerous road conditions faced by the beleaguered cycling fraternity in Malta and to the serious shortcomings of the roads where cyclists face dangerous situations on a daily basis largely because motorists are not conditioned to sharing the road with cyclists or because certain provisions are lacking.
To say that there is total lack of encouragement of cycling in Malta would be a gross understatement. Roads continue to be designed solely for motor vehicles. Cycling is positively discouraged by the often reckless and fearsome behaviour of motorists towards cyclists, which compounds the lack of road amenities for cyclists. The perception that cycling is "dangerous" deters most parents from buying a bicycle for their children and, indeed, for themselves.
Apart from denying children the opportunity of this healthy form of exercise, the absent bicycle mentality also has a wider health dimension. Malta has the lowest level of physical activity of all EU countries and only 0.8 per cent claim to use a bicycle. Walking and cycling are a simple way of improving public health. Cycling has the added bonus of a decrease in air pollution if car use diminishes. To this are added quieter and safer roads and a healthier economy through a lower use of fossil fuels.
Just over a year ago, a report titled, Towards A Low-Carbon Society: The Nation's Health, Energy Security And Fossil Fuels, published by The Today Public Policy Institute, addressed the serious problem of Malta's pollution from traffic, to which is added further pollution from the island's 100 per cent dependence on oil for energy generation. Part of the solution is to reduce car dependence. A section of the report (part III) was entirely devoted to promoting bicycle use and contained about 60 recommendations each of which is worth re-visiting by the authorities responsible for roads. Not one of these has been introduced. About 40 would cost little or nothing to implement, 10 or so would need a very modest budgetary outlay and the remaining would be marginally more expensive.
The more important of these recommendations amount to no more than simple measures aimed at changing motorists' attitudes to cyclists through information campaigns, changes to the highway code, introduction of legislation to protect cyclists and a tough stance against anybody who injures a cyclist, as is the case in most EU countries.
"Unlike motorists, cyclists rarely injure other people and surely it is the health and safety of the whole travelling public which should be considered when public policy towards transport is being formulated". This quotation is taken from an article that appeared in the British Medical Journal 30 years ago. It is time the government took this to heart. If it does, Mr Micallef will not have died for nothing.
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renald caruana
Aug 3rd 2009, 15:17
I fully agree with all the above, im 27 yrs old n cycled all my life, i chose not to drive for the simple reason that i just love the environment so much that i feel too guilty to drive, but it is so hard not just for me but for so many cyclists like me that spend most of their time on these dangerous roads, people shouting at you, swearin at you, callin you names, once they even threw me a bottle of water and on another occasion a festa bomb, n so on i could continue n write a whole book on such stupidities, we just have no choice than learn to live with all of these, im sorry for our beloved friend that had to die like this, thanks to his sacrifice maybe authorities will decide to do somethin about this, now that someone has died.
Gerard Said
Aug 3rd 2009, 15:00
I'm flattered to be part of 0.8% of the population, given that I cycle daily to work from St. Pauls' Bay to Cottonera. I'm proud to say that a) I waste less time getting to work (though I of course have to shower once I get there and b) I'm a much healthier person. Cycling is not just a great sport it's a great way to commute. If only the authorities took even the smallest of steps to acknowledge and encourage this...
H.Calleja
Aug 3rd 2009, 12:43
This editorial seem to put the blame for such a tragedy mainly on the state of most of our roads. I agree that these are certainly a hazard to motorists, cyclists and pedestrains but the main culprit was the irresponsable driver who had no licence and insurance, was drunk and a relapser. What else? He did not have the decency to stop and was apprehended after a police search. He should get the biggest punishment possible to set an example to other reckless drivers who do not care a fig about their safety and worst still that of others.
B Mallia
Aug 3rd 2009, 12:24
Mr. Micallef has died for nothing. This was a totally avoidable death.
The authorities do not take driving without alicense as a serious offence and the courts will grant parole if someone is caught doing so. Some years back I had my car smashed by a junkie driving a car costing LM 25. It cost me LM 1,400 to repair. The police prosecuted but the junkie was granted parole only to be re-apprehended a year later for beating someone up while going illegally in a one-way road and having had to stop because the other car was coming in the right direction.
This time the occurrence has been more tragic. Let us hope that the motorist from Hamrun does not get away with a mere 10 years in jail and that the authorities start taking driving without license and insurance seriously.
Moira Heath
Aug 3rd 2009, 12:01
I have no intention of ever using my bicycle on our public roads until driving laws are enforced. Every day I risk my life and that of my passengers when I drive in my car what with cars driving on the wrong side of the road, pulling out in front of you just a few centimeters away, overtaking you then pushing in on you when a car comes from the opposite direction, parking wherever whenever... the list goes on, you get my gist. No amount of billboards and campaigns will make the likes of people like Anthony Taliana behave when behind the wheel. And it's not just the young that break the law. The "mature" ones have a lot to answer for when it comes to reckless driving too. So spare us the money on advertising, and invest it in road fixing and law enforcement, maybe someday Malta won't be known for the sun, sea, potholes and reckless driving any more. Now where are my car keys?
J.Borg
Aug 3rd 2009, 10:03
Speaking on safety as regards to cyclists......ok the drivers have to take care of cyclists..
but the cycle lanes available in Malta are a real hazard in themselves. Firstlt they weren't intended as cycle lanes in the beginning.....so goverment is responsible aslo to provide cyclists with proper cycle lanes.
also, as seen on the news...were clifford was run over......there was this huge tree which was almost up to the middle of the road....
these things make cycling dangerous in our roads and care has to be taken on these things
Gino Schiavone
Aug 3rd 2009, 10:03
The Malta Exercise Health and Fitness association together with Joe Montebello had launched the booklet CYCLE Malta and Gozo. This was done for the Maltese fitness cyclists and to bring more Sports Tourism here. The booklet was also presented in Germany. The Malta Sport council also organises bicycle rides to encourage the sport while the cycling association does its part and other NGO's also do a lot of good work-example the Lifecycle.
However encouraging this Healthy and environmental friendly sport needs more management and good thinking. One suggestion is to take away the No Cycling signs in the Ta'Qali park as this is a good area where children can learn to cycle. Scools can also promote cycling in a sfe envirinment but then all this will have to translate in cycling outdoors to enjoy the beauty of our country side and to have a means of transport which is cleaner- but of course this comes at a cost for the government- while we also pay the price if we allow negligence on our roads. Drivers must respect all cyclists and vice versa- we are living here together to enjoy the path of our lives- let nobody ruin that path -ACTION.