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Rushed road works in Sliema causing great inconveniences - AD
Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson says road works in Sliema are causing inconveniences to residents, pedestrians and lacks cycling lanes.
28 January 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
The rushed works being carried out by Transport Malta at Sliema Ferries are causing a nightmare to pedestrians, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Michael Briguglio said.
Briguglio, a Sliema local councilor and candidate for the 9 March general election on the tenth district, hit out at the works being carried out by Transport Malta in Sliema saying they are causing great inconvenience to residents and will also exclude cyclists.
"The rushed works being carried out by Transport Malta at Sliema Ferries are causing a nightmare to pedestrians. Crossing the road is very dangerous, signs are lacking, trees have been removed, and there are no signs of bicycle lanes," Briguglio said.
The Green Party chairperson pointed out that as a Sliema Local Councillor he is particularly concerned for persons with disability, parents with pushchairs, children, the elderly and cyclists.
Briguglio explained that it seems that no cycle lanes are being designed to facilitate a safer passageway for cyclists in the Sliema Ferries area.
"Although the bus lane available on one side of the road could possibly be used by cyclists, it is obvious that this is still not the safest alternative for cyclists, while there is no available option for cyclists on the opposite side of the road."
Briguglio noted that following a meeting with the local Bicycle Advocacy Group (BAG) - a non political NGO that advocates for the safer roads for cyclists in Malta, Craig Wightman from BAG said that "if cycle lanes are not present or are not possible, then the most logical addition from a cycling infrastructure point of view is to use Sharrows".
He explained that Sharrows are clear markings that create more awareness about cyclists actually on the road in the form of bicycle pictograms and arrows indicating that the carriageway should be shared.
"Many cities in Europe have adopted cycling lanes in order to decrease the amount of polluting traffic whilst encouraging the safe use of bicycles for commuting," he added.
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To clarify BAG is not against the use of bus lanes as cycle lanes, we are actually in favour of more in order to reduce traffic congestion (particularly timed lanes in difficult areas), however as the reporter points out a planned bus lane in only one direction would not offer dooring protection in the other. Technically neither would a bus lane situated alongside parked cars, so this may explain why it is seen as less acceptable to AD. This would entail riders using the middle of the bus lane to avoid the dooring risk. This is usually an acceptable mitigation as the rider is occupying the bus lane rather than the carriageway proper. Similarly sharrows take riders away from the door zone where cycle lanes cannot be sited.
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You're right guys but it isn't just Sliema. The caretaker government is operating in panic mode with no heed to reason or good sense.
