We the Bicycling Advocacy Group would like to apologise to the Sliema residents for the cyclists who cycled too fast along Sliema promenade. We certainly didn’t condone this kind of behaviour and still don’t. Obviously we cannot apologise for the lack of enforcement because that is beyond our control. The lack of planning for cyclists by Transport Malta, as a mode of transport in the original design brief meant that cyclists were not catered for. When cyclists started using the promenade because they felt threatened by fast traffic, residents asked Sliema Local Council to take action, placing signs for riders to slow down. These were a good compromise, but doomed to failure due to lack of enforcement. Some cyclists did slow down, admittedly some didn’t which was wrong. The promenade was a haven for commuters fighting headwinds, the young and less confident as well as older riders. It is sad that the latest prohibition will only actually hurt this group. Now unfortunately slower riders might hold up traffic, we’re sorry we don’t mean to so please be patient and on the lookout for the more vulnerable cyclists. We think that’s reasonable. Unfortunately the faster speed cyclists will in all probability not be deterred, again due to a lack of enforcement. That means that the new ruling will in all probability fail too.
We would also like to apologise to the Sliema Local Council and it’s residents, we feel we have let you down in trying to help you solve your parking and congestion problems. Alowing Sliema residents to reach all the shops and facilities within their locality and beyond. That also means not losing your parking space (or needing to find one), which works in reverse for visitors who will spend money in the locality. We apologise for campaigning for something that in some small way may have helped to offset the failed residents parking scheme.
One of the major causes of people not to start cycling is that they think that it is too dangerous, despite the overall benefits outweighing all known risks by some 19 to 1. Making Tower Road safe enough, would have helped pedestrians too. Importantly it would have attracted cyclists, both commuters and leisure riders away from the footpath and the promenade. We tried, but it wasn’t enough. Law abiding bicycle commuters and leisure cyclists lost out, but we fear in the long run Sliema residents lost far more. Sorry.
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