A daily brush with death

Cycling on Malta's roads is an uphill struggle. Not only do cyclists have to deal with poor infrastructure but they have to contend with increasingly irreverent motorists. How accurate is the local cyclists' claim that, in Malta, the car is king? Kristina Chetcuti followed the training trail of Etienne Bonello and Danica Spiteri, two cyclists on the Malta National Cycling team, to determine the dangers on the road.

Every day, Etienne Bonello and Danica Spiteri cycle through Mdina Road, Żebbuġ, via Mġarr Road, through St Paul's Bay bypass and down the Coast Road, where veteran cyclist Cliff Micallef was killed in a hit-and-run incident.

It soon became very clear, as The Times followed the cyclists by car, that cycling is akin to an adventure sport and if you do not have your wits about you, it can be very dangerous.

Mr Bonello, 32, a mountain-bike cycling champion who has been cycling for the past 20 years, said all cyclists have a tale of near-death experience. His most recent narrow escape was in Mġarr. He stumbled against a piece of dried concrete, buckled and flew into the middle of the road.

"I was lucky to get away with mere bruises. Had there been cars, I would have been run over," he said, explaining that pieces of dried concrete, which drip from overloaded ready-mix trucks, were very common on roads.

Danica Spiteri, 28, a doctor by profession and the local triathlon champion, talked of motorists' harassment. "They come up from behind and hoot their horns, we're often jeered and heckled or have plastic bottles thrown at us."

This does not deter her from pursuing her hobby, even when, as witnessed by The Times, she was narrowly crushed to the wall by a speeding reckless coach.

Throughout the day, this was quite a common occurrence. At crucial points, such as curves and narrow winding roads, motorists failed to lower their speed and the cyclists were almost pushed against rubble walls or off the carriageways.

Still, Dr Spiteri insisted the health benefits outweighed the risks: "A cyclist means one less car on the road, which in turn means less traffic. And that means motorists getting to their destination on time. Of course, there are other benefits: the less traffic, the healthier we'd be as we would be less exposed to pollution and then we can see a decrease in health conditions such as asthma."

As a doctor she often prescribes exercise to her patients. "I don't mind what kind of exercise as long as it's for at least half an hour a day," she said. Unfortunately, most just brush off the suggestion, complaining of painful knees or arthritis or what not.

"The lack of motivation to get up and about in this country is a major problem," she added ruefully.

Throughout the route, cars often hooted and signalled the cyclists to use the bicycle lane - when there was one. The cyclists pointed out how most cycle lanes in Malta are unkempt and not maintained, full of glass shards, rubble and empty boxes.

"That's one of the reasons why cyclists opt not to use them - they are far more dangerous, apart from the fact motorists think they can leave their car parked there," Mr Bonello said.

Moreover, most of the cycle lanes installed are not continuous, as demonstrated along the Mġarr Road.

"This puts us in danger because we have to pull out unexpectedly into traffic. There is nothing you can do: you pull out and hope for the best," Ms Spiteri said.

Potholes are another reason why cyclists are at times forced to cycle in the middle of the road.

"In truth, cyclists are meant to keep to the side of the carriageway but as can be seen throughout the route to Golden Bay, this is near to impossible," Mr Bonello added.

Country lanes are not exactly an option. Unattended dogs on the loose and hunters can be quite a hazard. There is also a problem with the cycle tracks. Unlike the cycle lane, which is marked by a continuous white line on an existing carriageway designating a section of the road reserved for cyclists, the cycle track is a roadside converted pavement-like structure alongside, but separate from, the carriageway.

These are cobbled and not asphalted, with ramps at regular intervals and are shared with pedestrians.

"Apart from the fact the surface needs to be smooth to ensure safe cycling, it is dangerous to cycle among pedestrians. Our place is not on the kerb. Cyclists share the road with motorists and motorists need to understand this," Mr Bonello said.

This probably stems from the fact that most drivers are generally wary of cyclists, mostly because they are not aware that cyclists follow the same traffic rules as motorbikes and other vehicles, and have the same rights.

George Debono, author of the Towards a Low-Carbon Society report presented to the Prime Minister last year, which deals with the promotion of bicycle use, said motorists had to modify their behaviour to make the roads safer for cycling. And this had to come even before the provision of an adequate cycling infrastructure.

In his report he said money spent on better training for all road users and driver awareness campaigns was the way to go. Inexpertly designed cycle lanes reinforced the misconception that the cyclist was a second-class user of the road.

Dr Debono, 73, a retired clinical researcher, said he has cycled to work for most of his working life. "During two decades or so of cycling in Switzerland and Denmark I never had a single traffic incident. In these countries the car and the bicycle live in a happy symbiosis even in the absence of a cycle lane or track," he said.

He insisted Malta's roads would be a much happier place if motorists were more patient and simply observed a number of rules. And while a national campaign would be ideal, local councils could have a strong input in creating safe driving awareness.

If Malta needs encouragement for the challenge ahead, it just has to look to London where with a proper awareness campaign there has been a 91 per cent increase in cycling since 2000. Factors such as increased congestion and a realisation cycling is healthy and environmentally responsible were credited for the increase.

The increase in the number of cyclists also improved road safety in London, addressing one of the objections people had to cycling in the first place. If cycling numbers increase, other road users would be left with no option but to make room. Till that happens, hundreds of cyclists like Mr Bonello and Dr Spiteri have to take the daily plunge in traffic and fervently hope for the best.

Motorists' 10 golden rules

1. Drive carefully. Consider the road as a public space which you are privileged to use. Respect the needs of others, be they pedestrians or cyclists. Treat cyclists as legitimate road users and don't hassle them in any way.

2. Anticipate a potentially dangerous situation on the road.

3. Allow enough space for cyclists when overtaking. In many European countries it is obligatory to allow a space of one metre. If this rule alone is observed, it will contribute to a huge improvement in cycling safety.

4. Take care when emerging from a side road - remember cyclists are less visible than cars.

5. If there is a cycle lane don't drive close to the white line. Cycle lanes are often not kept clean and cyclists are forced to ride along the outside edge to avoid punctures.

6. Take great care when taking a left turn in the presence of cyclists.

7. Take care when opening the car door. Look back and make sure a cyclist is not approaching. Abruptly opened doors are a cause of serious injury to cyclists.

8. Always signal intentions in advance when turning into a side road in case a bicycle is following you.

9. Cyclists (and other motorists!) get easily blinded by car headlights - do make sure you dip lights when main beam is not necessary.

10. Do not hoot at cyclists to get out of your way. They are going as fast as they can.

Leading by example

Party leaders around the world have been doing their utmost to lead by example. Romano Prodi, the former Italian Prime Minister, uses every opportunity to commute by bike. In the UK, Tory party leader David Cameron goes to work (Parliament) by bike, as part of his social awareness commitment.

Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat told The Times he would not have a problem considering going to work by bike: "Why not? I exercise regularly anyway".

He insisted, however, that a healthy and environment-friendly lifestyle should become a way of life and of protecting the environment, not just as a pastime.

"As a country we should really be embarking on a culture change and preparing the right infrastructure to encourage everyone to take up such activities all year long," he said.