To place his letter ‘Cycling and mortality’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, February 1) in context, Jean Karl Soler might like to note that the savings made in the EU by bicycle commuting are valued at between €114 billion and €121 billion annually. This is largely due to a decrease in premature mortality and chronic disease associated with a lack of physical activity.

For this reason, like the UK, Germany and other countries, we suggest a voluntary scheme when it comes to safety equipment.

This is because it has been robustly demonstrated with scientific data that this is more cost effective and results holistically in higher level of safety.

Encouraging this voluntarily, rather than mandating it, is not the same as asking them not to do so.

Secondly, identifying ‘why’ some cyclists ride illegally against traffic, is certainly not the same as inciting then to do so.

What we at BAG actually ‘proposed’ involved scenarios where bi-directional traffic already existed.

Allowing cyclists to use streets blocked by bollards or residents’ only streets would also help get cyclists out of the way of traffic and encourage them to use quieter roads.

While some cities in the Netherlands boast a cycling modal share of 75 per cent, Malta’s share is tiny and struggles to keep pace with car growth.

Clearly in view of the recent University of Malta study, traffic congestion can no longer be considered a perception.

If we ban bicycles, it is far more likely that those bicycle commuters will return to using their cars and Malta will have to look to car drivers to make up the two per cent 2020 modal share target for cycling, by asking a further 6,000-8,000 car drivers to give up their car and take the bus.

We simply see cycling as a way of avoiding having to ask them to do that.

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