James C. Wightman, St Julians
Red zones
Joseph Messina suggested in his letter Congested Sliema Roads (December 22) that Amery and G. Borg Olivier streets become one-way roads to reduce the problem of cars being stuck when approaching from different directions.
Although one-way streets offer greater parking capacity (in narrower roads), they also, unfortunately, often cause more problems than they solve. Making car journeys longer, not to mention the inconvenience to cyclists, they also produce more pollution, result in increased traffic speeds, particularly in residential roads and, unless there is a suitable release, deposit traffic at junctions elsewhere that can become quickly overloaded.
George Debono suggested leaving them two way as they are a “natural traffic-calming” method, which makes sense. The problem is when wide vehicles are encountered, not just public service vehicles, but large SUVs that are currently in vogue.
Rather than make yet another one-way road, the fluidity of such roads could be enhanced by simply making one or two suitable “passing places” and having width restrictions or reducing the times that large commercial vehicles can obtain access.
Such passing places and other key roads that should not be obstructed could have the “red zone” introduced similar to the UK, where no stopping at all is allowed on red lines. This might also help keep traffic flowing.
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G G Debono
Jan 2nd, 15:47
To Jonathan Zammit Lapira
RE .traffic havoc... Borg Olivier street (with -- Capua Palace Hotel and the Capua Hospital)... congestion every minute.
Unfortunately the problem of traffic in Sliema (and most other densely built-up areas) is a lost cause.
Malta has just over 2000 cars per square mile and most of us use a car to move around in our built up areas, where the concentration probably reaches over 7,000 cars per square mile.
So something must give ! People can’t be prevented from buying a car (we are victims of our affluence – everybody can afford a car! ) the only two alternatives would be to make big cars very expensive ( = heavy taxes on anything that emits over 110g CO2 per km) so they take up less space....... and to alter our environment in such a way that people are encouraged to leave their car where it is and 1) walk 2) cycle
or 3 ) use public transport.
Unfortunately our public transport has only got slightly cleaner but remains inefficient – this is due to the wrong choice of buses (absurdly big, cheap export-reject vehicles from china, etc ) and bus routes which seem to have been designed hurriedly on the back of an envelope.
But when it come to walking or bicycle use – these are gradually becoming the only choice. This is happening in London, Berlin, Paris, Lyon, Brodeaux……… you name it.
I personally wouldn’t dream of using a car to travel from St Julians to anywhere in Sliema or even beyond. I use a bike (unless it is raining) for almost all of my of my journeys and feel better for it . I have just come back from the University Campus - went by bike as usual - - - 20 minutes to get there (door-to-door) and 15 mins back - - - . I had a one-hour session at the Campus - - left home at 11.30 and was back home at 1.15. Try beating that in a car !! (you may need 20 minutes just for finding a parking slot !) - And --- on a fine day like this the ride was pure joy !
So Mr Lapira – I’m afraid that I see is no way in which traffic can improve ! Maybe I’m wrong – but I don’t think so. Even when new roads are built they immediately become traffic-jammed , with so many cars squeezed into a small space this is inevitable ! If you want to get somewhere not too far without hassle – use a bike !
Finally, thanks to James for quoting me!
James McIntosh
Jan 2nd, 11:48
Believr it or not but double yellow lines also signify "no waiting at any time" and nowhere in the traffic regulations does it state that illegal parking is OK so long as you light up your hazard indicators.
The regulation of illegal parking on Malta this is just an absolute joke. Every day you see cars double and even triple parked without fear of punishment. Nobody gives a damn whom they disrupt because there is always "friends of friends" to take care of annoying tickets, only hire car drivers are targeted with any sort of dilligence, whether or not legally parked and nobody in authority cares.
What these islands are cryimg out for are not "Local Wardens" but British ones who have honed their craft to a fine art and will book all without fear or favour. The enforcement of traffic regulations are just a joke on the Maltese islands and neither Police nor Wardens are seen to be doing anything tangible to rectify the problem and Government dont care because they have personal drivers and police attendance to ensure their unhampered progress through static traffic and access to the ferries, this in itself is a corruption of Government power..
James Wightman
Jan 3rd, 07:48
The great shame is the large SUV's that such people in power or who are connected that seem most immune to tickets which even if they cannot dodge they can afford to pay. Clamping is one way round this but the obstruction doesn't move.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Jan 2nd, 11:32
I think it is about time that TM (Transport Malta) and the Sliema local council do something on these streets (Amery & Borg Olivier). At the very begining of Amery street we have Scotts Supermarket and that alone causes traffic havoc and at the begining of Borg Olivier street we have the Capua Palace Hotel and the Capua Hospital. Major entrance to both streets is from High street and here again we have congestions every minute especially in the part where the Three Trees and Dingli street meet with High street. Not to mention now that the Arriva buses are passing from Rudolph street to High street and into Amery street!!!!!!!!!!. Gone are those days in Sliema where we used to ONLY point out these unpleasant situations to Mr. Robert Arrigo and things would change in days or months.
James Wightman
Jan 5th, 07:08
But whats your solution????
All whine and no substance. get a bicycle!