The Bicycling Advocacy Group would like to congratulate the Sliema council on its stand in trying to address the safety of cyclists by providing access, with suitable and fair restrictions, to the promenade areas within its locality, as recently reported in The Times.

Mindful of the fact that a child of 12 can legally cycle on any footpath, if we choose not to create such shared spaces then technically we should perhaps ensure that our roads are safe enough for a 12-year-old to cycle on. The bottom line is that this kind of initiative, the creating of shared space, potentially helps all road users and also new business opportunities.

At the VeloCity Global conference in Vancovuer recently, cycling tourism was cited as a boom industry in Europe while on a smaller scale a safe route from the marina areas (boat owners often use conveniently stowed bicycles) opens up access to businesses elsewhere in the locality.

We also know of one business that is thinking of providing its services to residents via bicycle in an attempt to circumvent the problems it faces due to parking problems – an initiative that needs to be applauded and encouraged.

Many businesses in European cities are returning to the delivery bike, or its logical evolution, the electric cargo bike to do just that; while UPS in Dortmund, Germany, are even experimenting with electric trikes/velocars to make their deliveries in the city’s narrow urban streets that have limited parking – a scenario very similar to Sliema’s.

Cheaper, quieter and able to get products and services to the customer, cargo bikes are cutting costs and improving services while reducing the need for larger delivery trucks that can significantly increase urban congestion, also making good economic sense for smaller deliveries and items.

Sliema as a locality has a significant parking and congestion problem. Assisting residents and visitors to use bicycles, even for short trips to the shops for example, rather than rely on the car, can significantly help reduce traffic congestion and traffic related pollution.

Since bicycles are parked off street encouraging their use can also alleviate the already over-subscribed and finite number of parking spaces in the area. That can’t be a bad thing for both Sliema residents and other car drivers.