George Debono, Sliema
Intolerance to cyclists
Frans Said's letter is very misleading. The real give-away in his letter is his confession that he "used to cycle up to a certain age". This immediately disqualifies him from pontificating on the question of cycling, as road conditions today are worlds away from those of yesterday.
I am very much "of a certain age" but, unlike Mr Said, I have regularly used a bicycle for about 65 years and I still use my bicycle very much in the same way as the likes of Mr Said use a car. For decades, I have regularly covered thousands of kilometres every year both in Malta and abroad. I also drive a car (usually if it is rainy or if I have a passenger). So I can look at both sides of the coin.
Mr Said's second give-away is the outrageous statement that "our roads are too narrow and the mixing of the two modes of transport is prone to danger from both parties".
This is absolute nonsense. Narrow roads exert what is often referred to as "natural traffic calming"; put simply this means that cars tend to travel more slowly along narrow roads. Contrary to what Mr Said says, narrow roads therefore tend to be safer for all - pedestrians, children and cyclists.
I am pleased to confirm to Mr Said that one of the greatest pleasures of cycling is traversing villages and their cores through narrow, often winding, roads where traffic is quiet. Even cycling in the back streets of my native Sliema is far more pleasant than on main roads as Rue D'Argens or the suicidal (and wide!) Gżira sea front.
A cyclist has just been killed on a wide road and it is the experience of most cyclists that the most dangerous near misses occur on major roads, not in narrow streets and roads.
Then there is the question of "cycle lanes", which as Mr Said says, "costs money". Cycle lanes are not the answer to promoting cycling. It has been endlessly repeated that it is impossible to build a network of cycle lanes all over Malta (or any other country), therefore it is inevitable that cyclists have to share the same road. What is needed is a change of attitude of motorists to cyclists who share the road with them. This is taken for granted in most civilised countries and there is no reason why it should not be possible in Malta.
The nub of the problem lies in the intolerance of motorists to cyclists - as so amply demonstrated by Mr Said's letter. The simple sad fact is this: car users have two problems with accepting bicycles on the road. First, they want the road entirely to themselves and, secondly, they are absolutely set against having to take on the extra responsibility of driving more carefully in the presence of cyclists.
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Franco Farrugia
Sep 1st 2009, 23:32
@ Ms Hoare: It's rich for your to demand tolerance, when you write tha everyone should use the bike. You should realise that at the best of times, the bicycle, unfortunately, is impractical to use. But I won't dwell on te reasons why. If you are sensible, you would reach my same conclusions. But then, it also depends on your lifestyle, age, age and what you do in life
Joseph Sammut
Sep 1st 2009, 20:29
@George: reading you last blog, I am sure that you are not with it; what's this tra-la-la!!!!!!
George Debono
Sep 1st 2009, 20:11
@Mr Sammut 1) You said "the road is a carriage way for motorised vehicles" (& not for cyclists) This is wrong. This is what we are discussing. Or? As to "tolerance on our roads is not directed at cyclists only but at each other, everyone against everybody." well, I beg to differ - I drive quite a lot too you know - on the whole the driving is a bit on the mad side in Malta but definitely not agressive. One does occasionally meet the odd rogue driver but oherwise the only people who get on my nerves are the(harmelss) road hogs who drive slowly on the fast lane. I forgive them for they know not what they are doing ..tra-la-la Bye .............. G .
Joseph Sammut
Sep 1st 2009, 20:00
@ George: Yes I'm still here, why, I don't know, but your arrogance just dosen't keep me from not answering your arguments: is this what you are teaching young people? You are an insult being with only hatered flowing out of your facial orifice. Why would it be bad for your kin meeting with me (as in on the road), what do you know about me other than these few trikki trakki? Do you think you are God's gift to Malta. Why don't you get off you high horse and start living!
Franco Farrugia
Sep 1st 2009, 18:27
I repeat: Mr Debono is barking at the wrong tree: I will be brief, by once again saying that lack of tolerance on our roads is not directed at cyclists only but at each other, everyone against everybody. For Debono to continue insisting that people have it in for cyclists is misguiding, as he is.
George Debono
Sep 1st 2009, 15:46
@Mr Sammut
Hello ? Still there?
It's no use arguing with you - you just keep moving the goalposts.
For every law-breaking cyclist you quote I can quote 100s of similarly law breaking motorists - and one of these is more dangerous than all the naughty cyclists in Malta put together.
what you are saying is NO argument. The argument was that cyclists have as much right to use the road as much as motorists - OK ?
I hope my grandson does not meet you when out on his bike..
G
Joseph Sammut
Sep 1st 2009, 06:48
@ George Debono: I hope you teach you son to respect others on the road, like the prime users - cars and pedestrians on sidewalks. George, last Sunday I was waiting at the lights at St. Andrews (Jessie's Bar lights) along with about 6 other vehicles when a cycliest cut through us and jumped the red light: obviously this cyclist thinks that he is above road regulations or maybe it's because he does not pay registration/insurance, therefore "I'm not one of them"!!!!!
@Hoare: I would say that YES there is an age limit for everything - the old adage, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" springs to mind. I must be honest again, I got the impression from your first letter that you would be in your sixties which would make cycling still possible but probably not on busy roads. Why do you find it outragious that you have to go to Ta' Qali to cycle? Back in Melbourne, we used to go to the park with dedicated cycle paths and what not: we never dreamed of cycling in suburbia. And finally, I'm glad I made you laugh.
Mrs Mary Bugeja
Aug 31st 2009, 21:38
At Mr J Sammut ,over the past few years we have heard of test examenors taking bribes at the ADT so people to past thier driving test ,seems to me that this is how you got your licence as you dont know the high way code ,it is disgracefull to think there are people like you on the road ,i have 2 young children that wish to have bikes , but after reading your commets towards Mrs hoare and others bike users ,i think i keep my money in my pocket because if there are people like you driving around on the road then i dont think it is safe for anybody to cycle or walk .i will save my money till i know that cyclists have equal rights on the road and maybe the drivers should be educated like in America ,if you have an accident you have to go back to drivers education and if you dont finish the cource you can end up in prison , I think you would be the first 1 there .Us Maltese is allways ME ME ME ME and dont give any respect to other road users, young or old .
George Debono
Aug 31st 2009, 20:42
@Sammut
@but are Ms. Hoare and partner of cycling age?
Cycling age ??? what does Mr Sammut mean?
I'm 73 and i cycle - should i have thrown away my bicycle long ago ?
G
mrs g hoare
Aug 31st 2009, 20:05
@Joseph Sammut let me start with , i never thought in my life that there is an age limit you have to be to cycle in Malta , i find that very against / discreminated against all other older people then me , i'm in my early forthies i am not too old to cycle not even if i was 60 don't you think, shame on you ,i wonder what age bracket you come under , do you know how many people out there wishing the same as me to go out and cycle, why should we have to take our bike to Ta'QALI why can't we cycle along the strand without having to put up with the pig ignorant drivers. well mr j sammut thank you for the laugh when you said ,I do not mean to be disrespectful, what are you a comedian, first you said ( honestly reading these blogs gave me the impression that I am listening to school kids arguing, bullying each other) that is like THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK ,if you know what i mean ,yes you do need to get on your bike .
George Debono
Aug 31st 2009, 19:45
@Joseph Sammut said " the road is a carriage way for motorised vehicles" Quite simply it is not. In all countries Bicycles (and Horse-drawn carrigges or Karrozzini) are also lawful users of the same road. The road is a public space which belongs to everybody and not to motorists only. It is exactly as I said - car users have two problems with accepting bicycles on the road. First, they want the road entirely to themselves and, secondly, they are absolutely set against having to take on the extra responsibility of driving more carefully in the presence of cyclists. " If ever there is arrogance, this mentality is it." PRECISELY mr Sammut, you mirror my thoughts. My son aged 15 has recently taken up cycling - It makes me very worried for his safety when I read what people like Mr Sammut have to say about bicycles on the road. G
Joseph Sammut
Aug 31st 2009, 18:58
@All: honestly reading these blogs gave me the impression that I am listening to school kids arguing, bullying each other. arguments are mixed up; for example, Ms. Hoare tells us that we need to get on bikes more: good, who would disagree with that for health reasons. On the other hand, she tells us that no one owns the road and anyone can walk or cycle on the road: what a load of bull (to use your lingo). A road is a carriage way for motorised vehicles. If ever there is arrogance, this mentality is it. Ms. Hoare says that car drivers think they own the road, but it is she that says that anyone can walk or cycle on a road - she must own the road everytime she and her husand ventures out of their abode. I do not mean to be disrespectful, but are Ms. Hoare and partner of cycling age?
ms g hoare
Aug 31st 2009, 14:22
@Franco Farrugia , i dont find anything that George Debono is saying about F .Said iswrong ,he has the right to write and i didnt atall find anything wrong ,i read the letter also and i too thought it was alot of bull , like i said in other letters that people who drives a car should a ride a bike to be in the position to speak , the roads have nothing to do with the problem it is the arrogance of car drivers , me and my husband own car and bikes , but we wouldnt dare go out on the road as car drivers think they have the Gods right to the road ,No one own the road and everybody have a right to walk or cycle at any time they wish, some Maltese drivers need to educated to treat those less power transport with respect .We should start cycling and walking Mr Said, not getting the car out everyday to go around the corner from the house to get the news papaers .
we want more cycling and walkers to save our inviorment. and to learn to respect others.
George Debono
Aug 31st 2009, 14:19
@Franco Farrugia
Franco........With all due respect to you too....
There is a difference between criticism and insults.
To accuse somebody of "pontificating" is a criticism - not an insult.
You are welcome to tell me that I "pontificate" and I won't take offense but i certainly will if you call me stupid (or whatever). I gave clear reasons why I considered myself qualified to pontificate. If you disagree that's fine.
@"as if it were the first and last problem we have in the country".
We are most certainly getting near there, the pollution in our streets has reached crisis level. Of course everybody (especially ADT) is in denial about it because we are so attached to our car. Now don't misunderstand me....We have a car (VW Golf, no less) but i use it as sparingly as possible as i am aware that I am polluting when I drive it. I derive great satisfaction from using a bicycle because it is such a beautifully environment-friendly and healthy way to move. (and i have no parking problems - that helps a lot...)
Anything wrong with asking that I (and those who think like me) are allowed to cycle safely?
G
J. Debono
Aug 31st 2009, 14:13
@ Franco Farrugia
It seems that it is YOU that is barking at the wrong tree!
Whilst George Debono, whom I know and respect for his great love for the environment and people's health, is both a cyclist and a driver and therefore knows both pros and cons,
Frans Said in the letter he wrote, made his position clear, that is, he does not want any bicycles on the road whenever he is driving, which is extremely selfish at the very least.
What George Debono is preaching, is tolerance for cyclists from car drivers.
A car driver must remember that whilst he lies in the comfort of a car, the cyclist is sweating it out and battling against the selfishness and ignorance of some car drivers, which makes the LIFE of a cyclist in a dangerous position and as YOU know, can even prove FATAL!
Kurt Mifsud
Aug 31st 2009, 14:08
Meta tkun fit-triq u tara karozza 4 pulzieri l'boghod milli tigbdek maghha, IVA tkun l-ikbar problema dak il-hin
Franco Farrugia
Aug 31st 2009, 12:41
@ George Debono - With all due respect, sir, you have no right to personally insult anyone for not holding your own views. If anything, it's YOU who are 'pontificating' continually about cycling, as if it were the first and last problem we have in the country. In past comments, I tried to inform you that you are barking at the wrong tree.
Kurt Mifsud
Aug 31st 2009, 11:29
Prosit Mr Debono, ittra ta veru. Issa stenna xi profs jghidlek "Ghax kont ghaddej mit-tali triq u gie wiehed bir-rota isuq bl-addocc (li fil-verita jkun xi tifel ommu ma tissaportihx id-dar)...". Kif qed tghid inti, jekk ma tkunx issuqhom it-tnejn (karozza u rota) ma tistax tghid x'jigifieri. Imma sfortunatament 3/4 ta Malta jaraw sal-ponta ta mnieherhom u m'ghandhomx idea ta minn xiex naghddu ahna li nkunu bir-rota fit-triq.