The Bicycling Advocacy Group expressed concern about the new traffic layout and bollards at the bottom of St Antnin Street, Sliema.

"What might be a short cut for car traffic, is the only release for cyclists, who cannot use either Bisazza Street or the tunnel at Tigne.

"Cyclists are still reeling after having had a proposal for sharrows markings turned down, in a bid to offer some protection to cyclists using Tower Road in a bid to help get cyclists off the promenade, by making the road safer," it said.

Cyclists stated that this was the most pragmatic solution that affected other traffic the least, suggesting that a limited number of other options were open to TM, mainly traffic or speed reduction.

The group called on the government to invest in training for road planners in the integration of cycling as one of the EU's key elements in sustainable mobility for city centres an urban mobility.