Show cyclists a little more respect

Given the rather sad publicity that cycling has attracted lately it would be perhaps encouraging to see our parliamentarians and those with the power to make policy decisions taking up the two-wheeled challenge and leading the way forward. This would give some policy makers at least, an empathic insight into the problems facing cyclists, who are thankfully still growing in number.

As many have commented over the last few days, it is not just a question of infrastructure or creating cycle lanes - the later having more to do with a "paint and forget" mentality - but one of a contested space on our roads and a prominent car culture. While cycle lanes have been reported as being poorly surfaced, potholed or with tree roots growing up through them, this is true of most of the "cycle-able" first two to three feet from the kerbside of any road in Malta. This is particularly true of the quieter secondary roads that cyclists might use to avoid heavy traffic. The upshot is that cyclists are once again forced back onto main roads with their slightly better surfaces.

The issue here is one of efficiency. If you only have one third of a horsepower at your disposal you need all the help and best surface with least rolling resistance you can get.

That means not making roads that are only passable by full suspension mountain bikes but suitable for any type of bike. The current situation is a bit like designing roads just for 4x4's; there would be uproar and rightly so.

While a smoothing of the kerbside experience might seem an utopian dream, I am sure that there must be EU funding available by the bucket loads for solving the Maltese cycling conundrum.

Sadly the only difference between the rutted and rooted kerbside of most of our roads and the few cycle tracks is that one has a line painted on it. Cycle lanes are not necessarily the answer and will remain "a red flag to a bull" for car drivers in the narrow contested space of our roads.

Personally I don't need a lane all to myself, although it's nice in a big country like Germany or England, however what we cyclists do need is just a little respect from other road users.

Fixing the problems and barriers to cycling will have benefits for both car drivers and cyclists alike as bicycles mean more parking spaces for cars and shorter traffic queues, not to mention health and environmental benefits.

This is so important that some other EU countries offer tax breaks to individuals who choose to commute in this way and to companies that are bicycle friendly towards their employees, something else our policy makers could consider.