Mind the cyclists...

G G Debono

Dec 4th 2012, 15:21

Short answer - "no"

There is no country (including USA, Canada, & all EU countries etc etc ) where insurance of bicycles is needed... so why should it be necessary in Malta ?

In most progressive countries bicycle use (rather than car ) is encouraged and care is taken not to create disincentives.

G G Debono

Dec 4th 2012, 15:21

Short answer - "no"

There is no country (including USA, Canada, & all EU countries etc etc ) where insurance of bicycles is needed... so why should it be necessary in Malta ?

In most progressive countries bicycle use (rather than car ) is encouraged and care is taken not to create disincentives.

Matthew Grima

Dec 4th 2012, 22:02

What's wrong with being insured though? Isn't it good to safeguard them, and motorists? I think the same should apply to horses, and anyone who uses everyone's roads.

G G Debono

Dec 5th 2012, 17:23

Mathew I agree - the only reservation I have is that it should not be compulsory.

G Schembri

Dec 3rd 2012, 22:49

Don't generalize please, in an accident both parties can be guilty of negligence. Cyclists, drivers and pedestrians, should be more careful, I have seen cyclists in dark streets with no lights or highlighted clothing, I've seen cyclist in the middle of the road, or making sudden moves without looking, I also seen drivers driving carelessly. It's not fair to say it's always the drivers fault.

Michelle Grech

Dec 4th 2012, 07:17

I'm sorry, but do you even drive yourself? have you ever took a ride in a car? cause you're being quite unrealistic in all of your comments regarding the subject. First of all we're not taking sides here. As for my comments, I happen to witness myself. And not just once. Some drivers are very careless but cyclists can be careless too. Come on...

G G Debono

Dec 4th 2012, 11:18

MIchelle -

RE "I'm sorry, but do you even drive yourself?"

Yes, and I have lived and worked for 40 years in five different European countries where we were a two car family - I drove and cycled there (and in Malta) ... I cycle about 2,000 km/year here besides long walks with my dog - so I know what I am talking about.

Since you are getting personal - do you ride a bike ?

Michelle Grech

Dec 3rd 2012, 17:50

I'm afraid you're wrong Debono. The only thing that discourages people from using bikes are the roads themselves. And traffic accidents can be caused from anything really... from a tiny whole in the road to that particular cyclist that suddenly decides to take a turn without even considering to take a glimpse of his surroundings.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:46

Sorry Michelle
I don't buy this !

“Non-vehicle accidents” are the major cause of serious injury or death adult cyclists.

Non-vehicle accident injuries are usually not serious and are common only in children (an exception is icy roads in Scandinavia, where one rarely hurts ! ) .

So motor vehicles are the major (often fatal) threat to the bike commuter.

Michelle Grech

Dec 4th 2012, 07:39

I was referring to any possible accident on the road really. And it's not the first time I've encountered a group of cyclists that suddenly decide to change their routine and jump right in front of you while you're trying to overtake. That's just crazy! And then you blame the motorist for the accident.

G G Debono

Dec 4th 2012, 11:23

Michelle Grech

RE “I was referring to any possible accident on the road really”

Ducking the argument and changing the subject ! -- But we are talking about careless opening of doors!! .

RE “ group of cyclists ..suddenly ….change their routine… right in front of you while you're trying to overtake”
Gross irrelevant exaggeration !

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 16:42

Roy Muscat

RE “minn johrog bir rota….imissom imoru fpostijiet imwarbin..”

Skusi, mur inti post imwarrab !

It-triq ghieda hemm ghall KULHADD.

Roy Muscat

Dec 3rd 2012, 18:22

G G Debono
It triq qeda hemm al karozzi .tant u ek li jien biex insuq fit triq irid licenzja .u jekk ma nhalasix ,ma nkux nista insuq fit triq

Joe Mallia

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:55

Roy Muscat

It-toroq qeghdin ghal kulhadd inkluz ghac-ciklisti li huma obligati jimxu skond ir-regoli tat-traffiku li jinkludu regoli ghac-ciklisti. Il-fehema tieghek li t-toroq ghal karozzi biss gejja minn mentalita' egoista li hi skaduta.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:17

Sorry Jason

Bicycles and motorists must learn to share the road. It is impossible to create cycle tracks and lanes in every road. Bicycles and motor traffic co-exist happily in more civilised countries, our attitude that the road belongs to cars only is very backward and old-fashioned.

C Pisani

Dec 3rd 2012, 15:07

Oh sure, you are one of the "Kings of the road". Wake up, the road is for EVERYONE. Learn to live with it. This is pure arrogance, and probably ignorance as well. Learn the meaning of the word RESPECT. You should respect everyone, be it on the road, at work and in life in general. That is what distinguishes us from animals, so learn how to RESPECT.

Saviour Aquilina

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:28

Mr Zammit, I am cyclist and happen to me that pass very very close to me, do you think that have time to see the plate No? Do you think that every one take pen and paper? Some drivers ecpecially Arriva and trucks are Arogants.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Dec 3rd 2012, 20:27

@ Zammit: To do what you suggest I would have to break the law and drive WITHOUT due care and attention. If I had had a passenger with me, I might have asked him to write it down... that's the way the cookie crumbles. I always condemn people who use their mobile phone while diving, so why would I think it's OK to write a registration number down while I'm driving? My point was the risk.

Peter Murray

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:14

I too consider that responsible cycling should be encouraged but disagree that "it is up to cycling associations to tackle this problem".As surely it is up to individual cyclists to be more responsible ?As your solution then is similar to demanding that motoring associations tackle the many arrogant and irresponsible motorists using our roads.

James Wightman

Dec 3rd 2012, 18:43

True and thank you Peter. BAG actually produced a leaflet on safe cycling tips. We are trying to do something and attitudes are changing but they will not change overnight.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:07

J Giardina

Sorry, I cycle (I drive a car too) and, yes, I weave past still traffic – that’s the beauty of a bicycle – you get past stuck traffic !!! Surely you don’t imply that a cyclist endangers anybody by doing this?
I certainly feel safer when there is traffic congestion or standstill, and I get there quicker than a car !

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:01

Mr Vassallo - I have seen cars obstructing traffic by slow driving - so motorists do this too -

too bad ......the road belongs to everybody - just be patient.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Dec 3rd 2012, 17:50

@ Debono: I don't really understand your point; of course motorists cause dangers... didn't I just write about a car overtaking them by crossing over to the other carriageway?

My being patient doesn't mean I do not recognise stupidity when it stares me in the face. The point is they built up a line of traffic by driving abreast on a dark wet road and instigated dangerous driving by others.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:59

RE "bicycles on the wide pavement "

Maybe they are afraid of car doors?

James Wightman

Dec 3rd 2012, 18:48

True, the official speed limit on shared spaces is 6KPH. Marsascala has a cycle lane on the promenade but its timed and quite often you find cars parked on it. Any cyclists can legally ride on the footpath of a bypass or tunnel. A 12 year old can legally ride on any pavement. If you want those riders off the pavement, we have to make the roads safe enough for even a 13 year old to ride on.

Michael Borg

Dec 3rd 2012, 11:42

well said

Saviour Sam Agius

Dec 3rd 2012, 11:59

If it's risky to overtake, you shouldn't do so. Two wrongs don't make one right and if you break the rules because someone else is doing so, you're still wrong.

Joe Mallia

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:19

The use of cycling lanes or paths depends among others on the state of the paths/lanes and the type of bicycle used. Cyclists using road bikes with 25mm wide tires or less go for the road due to the bad surfacing of the lanes/paths. Cyclists however should not cycle abreast on the roads.

Mark Demicoli

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:04

@ Saviour Sam Agius - what do you pretend drivers, trucks etc.. to stay driving at around 25km/h on the halfar-to airport road which is marked at 60Km/h? Do you know the amount of traffic handled by that road leading to the freeport? Nonsense! There is a prefect cycle lane with tarmac, road marking etc, they should use that one, fullstop!

@J.Mallia - that particular cycle lane is perfect!

C Pisani

Dec 3rd 2012, 15:01

@Mark Demicoli Did you ever try riding the so called "perfect" cycling lane? Did you ever get out of your car and check it out. It is easy to state this and that, when you have NEVER tried something. Get on a bicycle and go out for a ride, if you know how to, and see what it is like to TRY and enjoy a hobby. But as someone else mentioned in the comments below, we have a "SELFISH" gene.

James Wightman

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:02

@ Mark Demicoli, actually it's not a cycle lane (which is always on the road), it's a shared cycle path with an official speed limit of just 6KPH. It is not legally mandatory for a cyclist to use such a path and as its limit is only walking speed its unlikely anyone will use it.

Saviour Sam Agius

Dec 4th 2012, 07:48

The national speed limit for trucks and heavy vehicles is 30km/h, so 25km/h is not really THAT slow... The fact that they always overspeed is another story.

Saviour Sam Agius

Dec 4th 2012, 12:35

James, cyclists should break the speed limit on shared cycle paths so that truck drivers can keep on breaking the speed limit on the road. That's the way you should think about it.

Michael Borg

Dec 3rd 2012, 11:41

protective gear ?? all black with an advert ?? thats protective !!! fluorescent like traffic police is protective
PS i have nothing against cyclist in fact i am Motorcyclist !!

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 12:10

what are those??? i havent seen a bicycle with all the bells and whistles in years ( apart from the bicycle i brought for my daughter years ago and the bicycle my grandaughter has ) and yes even my grandaughter who is now 7 has learnt the higeway code where it involves bicycles unlike a lot of grown ups using the roads and calling themselves cyclists!!!!!!

James Wightman

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:04

Or drivers (lets be fair Mr Camilleri)

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 12:07

not to mention that one of them seems oblivious that traffic is passing him and he is so busy look down at something that evidently is wrong with his bike on the road, not even having the decency of getting of the bike and take it up on the pavement to see what is wrong with it!!!! BASTA BIL CRASH HELMET

James Wightman

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:33

@ Messers Murray and Camilleri, well we did actually supply 3 photos of drivers in the process of dooring or potentially riders. I understand you're anti-bike (just for the record I'm not actually anti-car). But don't worry if you didn't get to see them, they are part of BAG's national anti-dooring poster. Guys at least we are trying to do something to make roads safer.

Ms Maria Vella

Dec 3rd 2012, 08:34

Is that your argument to be less attentive towards cyclists?

Peter Murray

Dec 3rd 2012, 08:44

Ms Vella ,

I would suggest its mr.Borg's argument for cyclists to be more responsible - as awareness and accountability is a 2 way street (pardon the pun)

Mark Fleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 08:45

How many drivers actually check their side mirrors before opening a door? Actually how many drivers know what a side mirror is?

Saviour Sam Agius

Dec 3rd 2012, 08:56

Some drivers don't even see cars with two huge headlamps on when they open their car door, let alone cyclists. Not even if we had to wear a Christmas tree on the bike would they probably see us. Drivers should simply learn to look first, then open, not vice versa.

Graham Holme

Dec 3rd 2012, 09:04

Would not make an iota of difference if the cyclists wore fluorescent jackets,complete with flashing beacons on their crash helmets whilst whistling dixie.
Maltese car drivers park up,double parked or otherwise,then just open their car door ,without any observation re,oncoming traffic,,another example of the selfish,ignorant,total disregard for other road users,,,

C Azzopardi

Dec 3rd 2012, 09:54

No Maria, his argument is, if you don't take proper precaution for yourself, you have it coming. I'm sick of seeing cyclists disobeying road rules such as One Ways.

Don't come up with the cr*p that they're bicycles and don't need to observe the road rules. If they're on the road, they have to obey the rules.

Peter Bonello

Dec 3rd 2012, 10:38

@Maria Vella, his argument is that sometimes you cant see a car in the dark if its not properly lit, let alone something as small and thin as a bicycle! And some cyclists really do ride in the middle of the road in an attempt to avoid potholes but this does infuriate drivers. It happened to me last week a cyclist blocked my way in a very wide road because there were a few potholes on the side!!!

Michael Borg

Dec 3rd 2012, 11:06

@ Maria no ! but cyclist should do there part as well

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 12:02

to all you cyclists that have comment here that people dont look before they open the door your right!!! but cyclist dont look dont indicate where there going and dont even signal that they are stopping or turning!!!!hey read your highwaycode and it states be aware of opening doors so quite moaning and read YOUR HIGHWAY CODE!!!

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:25

To Peter Murray
Re “suggest………. cyclists to be more responsible……. awareness and accountability is a 2 way street”

Not again please - - The same old sick argument.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:30

Michael Borg

RE “ protective clothing” - people just wear normal clothing in bicycle-friendly civilized countries - it is the duty of any car driver both to keep a look out and open offside doors slowly. Cyclists repeatedly have doors THROWN open in front of them,

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:35

Peter Bonello

1 ) RE “.. you can’t see in the dark..” All the more reason for being extra careful when opening doors…

2) Re “some cyclists really do ride in the middle of the road” why not ? -- I certainly keep well away (towards the middle) if passing parked cars… to avoid hitting car doors THROWN open in my path.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:39

To Michael Borg
Today, 11:06
RE you comment to Maria –“ ….. but cyclist should do their part as well….” Why do motorists ALWAYS try to pass the blame on victims ? Remember you have a lethal weapon and it is you who has to be careful;.

Saviour Sam Agius

Dec 3rd 2012, 08:54

That's what cyclists do, but you're bound to miss one every now and then. It's impossible to see who's in the car sometimes, especially when the windows are tinted. It's also harder for a cyclist to avoid doors at the last minute because very often there's another car tailing him right behind him which he has to also take into consideration because they tend to overtake too close.

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 11:57

so do you propose that cars stay without doors?? sir the point is people open doors without relising that they might hit someone. so cyclist must learn to reduce speed and indicate the same to traffic comming up behind them basic highway code! and for the cyclist that was mentioned here, that he was thrown quite a distance only shows how fast this cyclist was travelling when the door opened!

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 13:21

Mr Camilleri RE" look into the parked cars to see if people are there and drive extra slow"

Do you think it is possible to check every car for occupants who appear as if they might open a door when passing hundreds of parked cars, say, along the Gzira or Ta Xbiex front ?

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:01

GG Debono Mr Debono it is clear that you do not know your Highway code, because it is mentioned for both cyclists and motorists to take extra precaution when passing parked cars for opening doors. if a cyclist was knocked over by an opening door unfortunatly it is his fault same as a motorist hitting an opening door! to be continued

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:04

continued G.G. Debono when i am driving in any road where cars are parked on both sides of the road one just automatically slows down a looks on either side to see any heads inside the cars, cyclist can do this much easier because they can slow down quite a bit more than cars and have an unobstructed view into the car he is about to pass.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:55

Mr (Paul) camilleri
RE “…cars are parked on both sides …slows down…look on either side to see heads inside the cars”
Mr Camilleri – out of sync with time again. You don’t have an “unobstructed view into the car” nowadays with seat head rests.
The only alternative for a bike is to keep well away from parked cars.

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 14:59

paul camilleri
RE “the point is people open doors without realising that they might hit someone” ….” so cyclist must learn to reduce speed”

1) Mr Camilleri the average cyclist anyway plods at about 15 -20 km/h.

2 ) Even hitting a door at low speed throws you off “quite a distance” - it can even kill.

Hey – you ever ridden a bike mate?

paul camilleri

Dec 3rd 2012, 15:41

GG Debono
it is irrelevant how fast/slow a bike plods along and your trying to avoid the main issue, bicycles/motorbikes/cars/vans/trucks/buses its in the highway code when passing parked cars take care of sudden opening of doors. this is something that obviously happens world wide or they would not put it in the highway code. so my advice, i,ve probably rode bikes before you were born MATE

G G Debono

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:08

paul camilleri
OK OK -
The problem is that car-drivers are not considerate or worried about cyclists.

that’s why I keep well away from parked cars when on the road. And if I am close it can still happen that vision INTO a car is obstructed – esp nowadays with head-rests and hatchbacks etc.

Do you mean that you drive past parked cars at 15km/h in a narrow one way street?

James Wightman

Dec 3rd 2012, 19:15

Mr Camilleri,

3 metres isn't actually that far. However in a dooring incident in Bisazza Street the cyclist was thrown against a car. This caused some Euro10,000 worth of damage and court found the car driver who opened the car door into the path of the cyclist liable. So the advice above might save you some money! It is also the duty of car drivers (also in the highway code???) to notice cyclists.