Cyclists will next week ride to Parliament carrying a petition calling for safer roads, after two riders were recently seriously injured in accidents.

One of them, Mario Micallef, 44, is so shaken he will not risk riding a bike again. The father of two is in hospital recovering from a broken ankle, pelvis, clavicle and teeth, after he was hit by a bus in Qrendi last Monday and thrown off his bicycle.

This and other accidents involving both riders and pedestrians have prompted several cycling organisations to plan a campaign for safer roads for everyone. They are circulating a petition, called Escalate Road Safety Measures in Malta, which will be delivered to ministers.  

“I want to help raise awareness about the consequences so other people, especially those who have a family to look after, do not end up this way,” he said, pointing at his leg. People using the roads need more patience and have to be more attentive. If a driver wants to overtake a cyclist, they should slow down when they approach the rider and keep a distance of 1.5 metres when going around them.

“Cyclists also need to put on the lights at night and wear safety gear, especially the helmet, which is what saved me in this incident.” 

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