The announcement that a culture of cycling and walking will be promoted by a new department within the Public Transport Authority has been welcomed by the environmental groups Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) and Ramblers’ Association (RAM).

Besides being good news for walkers and bicycle enthusiasts in Malta, this would bestow additional benefits on the environment, health and traffic flow, they said.

"With the law giving more protection to cyclists and walkers it is certain that more people are encouraged to use these healthy and envorinment-friendly means of commuting to their work places and to run errands, especially when hills and distance are not a constrain," they said.

FAA and RAM hoped that this initiative would be realised sooner rather than later and that its implementation, through better amenities and clear and pertinent regulations, would alter attitudes and markedly increase the feel-safe factor on Malta's main routes encouraging would-be cyclists and walkers to take to the roads.

The NGOs urged the relevant authority to ensure that the new amenities would be absolutely secure, and that strict observation of the law would be constantly maintained and enforced.

There also had to be stiff penalties for those breaking the rules and enforcement, which was the root of so many accidents on Maltese roads.