Cyclists cancelled the protest they had planned for last Wednesday to call for safer roads following a “positive” meeting with Transport Malta and the minister.
The symbolic ride to Parliament had been called after two cyclists were seriously injured in separate accidents earlier this month. One of these, Mario Micallef, told this newspaper he would not risk cycling again.
Another two cyclists were injured in two separate incidents last Sunday.
The incidents prompted several cycling organisations to plan a campaign for safer roads for everyone, including a petition and a protest.
The two cyclists injured last weekend were hit by a car during a triathlon in Ħal-Far. Athlete Fabio Spiteri said the road was meant to be closed to traffic because of the marathon, but the cyclists were hit by cars coming from side roads.
One of the triathletes ended up in hospital with a broken nose and shoulder blade, Mr Spiteri said, urging for more caution on the roads. He said it was unfair that cyclists, who had chosen a healthier lifestyle, were risking their lives every time they rode a bicycle.
Mr Spiteri’s team is one of the cycling groups that came together to campaign for safer roads.
A spokesman for the coalition said that during a meeting last Tuesday with Transport Malta and the Transport Ministry, Minister Joe Mizzi was very supportive, not only of the need to encourage more people to cycle, but also about the need to embellish safety on the roads.
Although cyclists were concerned about road infrastructure, the coalition felt there was a “serious effort” by the government to help promote road safety for riders, and they called off the protest.
On Wednesday, the cyclists also met Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, and while handing over an ongoing petition, they discussed better enforcement, penalties and the problem of driving distractions, Jim Wightman, from the Bicycle Advocacy Group, said.
Mr Wightman noted an increase in the number of people taking up cycling since the advocacy group started to actively raise awareness three years ago.
This increase could have been triggered by higher congestion, he noted. However, there was still a long way to go to encourage more people to use a bicycle.
“We’re not forcing people to give up driving, but encouraging them to not drive when they don’t have to,” Mr Wightman added.
Mr Spiteri too urged for caution from all road users.
He reiterated that there was room for the 1.5 metre rule on single lane roads as well. This is the distance drivers need to keep when going past cyclists. He noted that cyclists were sometimes forced to pull out from the side of the road because of glass shards that accumulated right below the pavement.
At other times they are forced to swerve because of potholes or when they realised a driver was getting out of his parked car.
The coalition is planning to hold an awareness ride in a month’s time. Updates are available on the Facebook Page Bicycling Advocacy Group (Malta).