Today, another crash occurred on our roads involving a truck that overturned and spilled its load. First and foremost, we at Rota would like to wish the driver and anyone affected by this incident a swift and full recovery. However, this incident brings into sharp focus the urgent need for better road safety measures, particularly for bicycle users.
As photos shared by the press show, the truck ended up within the bicycle lane, an area where any bicycle user could have been fatally injured. The current road design offers no protection for cyclists, and this tragic event highlights the pressing need for proper segregation between high-speed traffic and vulnerable road users, particularly those on bicycles.
The need for well-designed and protected bicycle lanes is not just a local issue; it is a matter that has been highlighted in international road safety guidelines, including the CROW guidelines. These guidelines emphasize the importance of segregation in high-speed areas and the need for roads that are forgiving of human error. In simple terms, we must ensure that the consequences of mistakes – whether made by a driver or a cyclist – are not fatal.
Sadly, Malta is still without a legally binding national cycling policy that will outline clear standards for the design and implementation of safe and effective bicycle lanes. We cannot allow cyclists to be subjected to what is, at best, a makeshift effort that often amounts to nothing more than a splash of green paint and some rumble strips. It is not enough. Bicycle lanes need to be designed to protect cyclists – physically separated from traffic in high speed areas, with sufficient space and barriers to prevent accidents.
In addition, we would like to call attention to some of the current bicycle lanes in Malta that have been flagged on multiple occasions. For example, the Mgarr bicycle lane, which is dangerously narrow in several sections, making it nearly impossible for cyclists to pass through without risking their safety. In some parts, cyclists are forced to ride so close to rubble walls that they risk hitting their handlebars, a situation that clearly demonstrates the lack of attention to cyclist safety in the design of this lane.
Similarly, the Coast Road bicycle lane offers no real segregation from traffic, leaving cyclists exposed to speeding vehicles. Moreover, this lane is often not properly maintained; it is rarely cleaned, and debris can often be found scattered across the path, adding another layer of danger for cyclists. Speed on the road is rampant, with little to no enforcement of speed limits, making it an incredibly hazardous route for anyone on two wheels.
These examples clearly demonstrate the need for immediate action to address these design flaws and ensure that cyclists have safe and properly segregated spaces to commute. The current state of bicycle infrastructure is inadequate, and it’s only a matter of time before more injuries or fatalities occur if we continue to neglect the needs of vulnerable road users.
We urge our politicians and local authorities to take action now. It is time to put the needs of vulnerable road users at the forefront of policy decisions. We cannot afford to wait for more injuries or, worse, fatalities to force the necessary changes.