The local cycle commuting community are inviting local council mayors and representatives the chance to join them on their monthly bike ride, this time from San Giljan to Valletta.

The group had recently invited political candidates to do the same with a ride from Junior College to MCAST earlier in the month. Last week the group invited all the local councils along this important bicycle commuting route, namely the mayors of San Giljan, Sliema, Gzira, Msida, Pieta, Floriana and Valletta, to join them for the ride, starting at the St Julians Nextbike docking station at 7.30pm on Friday 30 June. Members of the BAG (Bicycling Advocacy Group) will escort the mayors on an educational ride to Valletta and back, pointing out possible infrastructural improvements and problem areas along the way.

‘We believe that by actually experiencing it first hand, the mayors will be able to understand where the problems lie and how cycling can help their community’s transport and parking problems’ the group said. ‘For instance, there are more problems on the return leg, that just might be less obvious to those who exclusively drive cars, so it’s more of a fact-finding ride for them’ the groups spokesperson Jim Wightman added.

The old excuse of not having a bicycle is a thing of the past, thanks to Nextbike, and the group is also hopeful that representatives from TM or the transport ministry might also be able to join them as well, for the same reasons. No representatives from TM or the ministry attended the educational tour from Junior College to MCAST, the group noted.