AD decry lack of consultation over Coast Road 'road studs'

Green party Alternattiva Demokrattika has criticised Transport Malta for failing to consult adequately with cyclists prior to installing ‘road studs’ on the newly-tarmaced Coast Road.

In a statement, AD sports spokesperson Claire Azzopardi Lane warned that the ‘studs’ are uncomfortable and unsafe, particularly for cyclists using narrow wheel rims.

Transport Malta has said that the ‘studs’ are actually ‘rumble strips’ that were installed to add an extra layer of protection to cyclists.

However, Azzopardi Lane said that conflicting international guidelines exist in relation to rumble strips and road stubs, and that open consultation with cyclists would have given TM the information required in the context.

“Numerous negative comments have been posted on social media by competitive and leisure cyclists in response to these studs on the Coast Road,” she said, while countering TM’s explanation that the road isn’t used for competitive cycling events.  

“During such events roads are closed to traffic and cyclists compete on an open road,” she said. “However, cyclists use the Coast Road to train for such events, thus these studs would not only hinder but could also possibly cause serious accidents."