Are the roads any safer?

This article was first published in the Times on 2nd August 2012

The third anniversary of the death of Cliff Micallef, a cycling enthusiast who was killed in a hit-and-run accident on the Coast Road while training for LifeCycle, fell last Monday.

Three years down the line from this tragic accident and I still wonder about what efforts have been made to render the roads safer for cyclists.

Only last week, a cyclist was injured after being hit by a bendy bus on the Coast Road. Three weeks ago, another cyclist suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car at St Paul’s Bay. Last April, a refugee cycling to work was seriously injured when he was hit by a car at Birżebbuġa. In the same month, another cyclist was injured after being hit by a car in Fgura. Two of these cases were a hit and run.

Dozens of similar accidents have been reported in these three years, many more are not even reported and near-misses are experienced frequently by all those who cycle regularly.

It is evident that there is general lack of respect towards cyclists and lack of awareness of what might endanger them. Being a cyclist myself and having been on the receiving end of a hit and run, which, luckily, had no serious consequences more than a year ago, I am troubled by an apparent lack of will to rectify the situation.

The benefits of cycling are obvious and I won’t repeat what is already common knowledge. As a mode of transport, cycling reduces traffic congestion and, thus, air pollution, while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Not to mention the health benefits that come with practising it regularly, which in the long run cuts the public health bill borne by the whole community.

On a positive note, many more people are taking up this sport, not only for leisure but also for commuting.

The temporary measure of refunding VAT paid on bicycle purchases was indeed a good incentive that should be continued on the principle that while polluters should pay more, non-polluters should pay less.

Unfortunately, the behaviour experienced on the road is still very sour, as cyclists are more commonly perceived as another inconvenience to put up with rather than positive contributors to be encouraged.

The first drive should be for more awareness. Drivers need to be more conscious of the fact that a cyclist has no metal frame surrounding him and no air bags to cushion his fall; he only has his flesh and bones and, therefore, deserves a higher degree of protection on the road than other vehicles.

Education and awareness though are never enough and need to be strengthened by legislation. Some European countries and American states have enacted laws to this effect, the basic of which being the “one-metre rule”, where drivers are required to keep a minimum distance of one metre when overtaking a cyclist. Cars are also not allowed to overtake cyclists close to bends and crossroads and cyclists are given priority at crossings.

Another hazard is found in the now common practice of double-parking cars while the unconcerned driver runs a quick errand. The danger is not only for cyclists but also for other cars users who, to overtake, sometimes even have to drive wrong way, a practice which both the police and wardens seem oblivious to, while they keep preferring to fine softer targets whose offence would be causing much less danger.

A stronger police presence on the roads is sorely needed because careless driving is unfortunately on the rise and endangering everyone, not only cyclists. The law must come down hard on those who endanger other people’s lives, both by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or simply by reckless behaviour.

It must also come down harder on those who try to run away from their responsibility when they err. In such cases, suspended sentences are not enough; long bans from the road and heavy fines should be in order. After all, very few things are worse than injuring a human being and leaving him/her lying by the side of the road as if s/he were some unwanted piece of garbage.

The reality is that while more cycling lanes would be welcome, it is impossible to have them covering all the roads in the whole country. Different commuters must, therefore, learn to co-exist and share the roads between them. Mutual respect will go a long way in achieving that. Stronger legislation and enforcement would definitely speed up the process.