Cyclist safety first - not 'manners'

What appeared initially to be an encouraging and supportive letter with the interesting suggestion for a "think bike campaign" (August 21) turned out to be quite a rotten parson's egg full of irrelevant and insensitive comments in the context of a tragedy where a cyclist was wantonly killed by a motorist. And this was the second hit-and-run accident within the space of 10 days.

Surely, if a motorist kills a cyclist, the implication is that motorists pose a threat to cyclists and not the other way around? Surely, it is the cyclist (even if "well mannered") who is exquisitely exposed to injury and not a driver inside a car? Yet, Roger Castillo indignantly demands that cyclists "should be the first to show good manners" - or else! - as though endorsing the current dangerous and belligerent attitude of so many motorists to cyclists.

The sad underlying fact is this: unlike other European countries, cyclists are second class road users in Malta. These get little or no protection from the law and are left to muddle along as best as they can to avoid accidents. Put another way: as things now stand, cyclists who try to abide by the "rules" and share the road with motor traffic are exposed to greater risk of injury or death; so they have to find ways of travelling safely and this may include the "bad manners" referred to by Mr Castillo to avoid danger from motorists.

Of course, if well-designed cycle lanes and tracks were available and if traffic crossings truly catered for the needs of cyclists, then there would be absolutely no question of the importance of cyclists observing the rules. Given good conditions, cyclists do not have to resort to doing naughty things, literally to keep out of the way of threatening vehicles. In any event, even if a cyclist breaks the odd rule he doesn't endanger anybody anywhere nearly as much as a car which, if abused, becomes a lethal weapon - as we saw on the coast road on that fateful morning last month.

In this context one can only quote yet again the statement in a recent editorial in this same newspaper: "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". The whole travelling public includes pedestrians, children and cyclists. Unfortunately, the only road policy today is that of extorting money from innocent people for improper parking or for being caught unawares in speed traps. This gives carte blanche to the inconsiderate, reckless or drunken driver.

It is the motorists who need to mend their ways - not the threatened cyclists.

Finally, congratulations and sincere thanks to David Casa for his excellent assessment of the problems facing cyclists in Malta (August 20).