Cyclists really tend to polarise opinions – you’re either a diehard cyclist or a frustrated motorist or pedestrian, convinced bikes are a danger on the roads. You either love them or hate them. But whichever camp you fall into, there are potential hidden dangers and costs to cycling you’re probably not aware of – theft, vandalism and potential lawsuits. As I cannot lay my hand on local statistics, I had to revert to the UK to obtain some facts.
With cycling fanatics spending hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds on their bikes and accessories, the threat of theft is a major concern. Even nipping into a shop to buy a newspaper and leave your bike outside you are inviting theft. If you don’t believe it, ask David Cameron, who has twice been the victim of a high-profile bike theft. The British Crime Survey found that 115,147 bikes were reported stolen in 2010, but the actual figure may be as high as 533,000. If this is correct, it would mean that a bike is stolen every minute, with many cyclists not bothering to report the crime to the police.
If you’re a seasoned cyclist, you’ve probably had at least one heated exchange with an irate motorist or pedestrian while on your bike.
Although these incidents will normally go no further, some accidents could have more serious consequences. According to UK data, 14 per cent of cyclists have damaged vehicles while riding their bikes and 15 per cent have hit pedestrians. If you hit a pedestrian who then takes legal action as he cannot work due to his injuries, legal fees and compensation could stretch to thousands of pounds, so it really does pay to be covered. In order to be protected against such claims, one needs to take out an insurance policy containing a third party or liability clause.
If you do decide to protect your bike, you have two possible options – making sure your cycle is covered on your home insurance or taking out a specialist, separate policy. If you decide for separate bike insurance, this may offer a range of protection not available via home insurance, such as liability cover. Whichever type of insurance you choose, there is a risk your insurer will not pay out if you have been negligent – i.e. left it unlocked or it is damaged through your own carelessness. It might sound obvious such as that you leave your bike in well-lit, public locations and tied against an immovable object. Another aspect that I have noticed specifically in Malta is the lack of proper protection and clothing. In the UK many of these are obligatory and the insurance people (and the police) insist on all precautions, including reflecting jackets.
As yet I am not aware of any specific rules and regulations about cyclists but if cycling is to be encouraged there should be specific guidelines. All users of the road need to obey the relevant rules. Two or four wheels, pedal power or engine, each of us is a road user and if cyclists expect respect from motorists, they, on their part, must also respect the other users. The bottom of the line is the importance that cycling should be properly regulated in Malta on the same bases this is controlled in UK and in Europe in general.
Traffic control in Malta consists solely in clandestine wardens only to issue parking tickets.