More than 200 cyclists yesterday walked their bicycles into Valletta to raise awareness about their presence on the roads.

“Motorists need to open their eyes and see the cyclists sharing the road with them. We can wear the brightest colours, but unless they become aware, they won’t see us,” said Jim Wightman from the Bicycle Advocacy Group (BAG) that organised the walk.

It was responding to a spate of cyclists injured on the roads. BAG recently reported an average of about 240 near-misses per 1,000 kilometres in the first quarter of 2012. The idea was to raise awareness among car drivers about the vulnerability of cyclists.

“It’s like when you get a new car. At first you might think there aren’t many like it on the road but, once you become aware, you start noticing them everywhere.

“Once you realise there are cyclists out there, you’ll start noticing them too,” he smiled, as he stood outside the new Parliament building at City Gate.

From there he and the other cyclists walked their bicycles to St George’s Square, as they did not have permits to ride in the capital.

Among the cyclists was Nanette Farrugia, who was run over by a bendy bus in a hit-and-run on the Coast Road in July.

The driver was charged in court over the accident.

“I couldn’t not be here… My accident is one of the reasons it was organised,” Ms Farrugia said, adding she still could not ride since her arm had not healed completely.

Her accident came a few weeks after 66-year-old cyclist Emanuel Inguanez ended up in in hospital with a broken pelvis after he was hit by a car in St Paul’s Bay.

Three years ago Life Cycle member Clifford Micallef, 45, died on the Coast Road after he was hit by a car that also drove off but was later tracked down by the police.

His death had sparked public outrage and prompted calls for better road safety.