Heavy investment in electric cars and their infrastructure is a laudable and promising project, yet only 180 electric cars had been registered by the third quarter of this year. There are far, far more bicycles used for commuting to work each day, all of which do more to reduce car-induced congestion and emissions for which we may soon be fined. Yes - bicycles may be reducing your tax bill.

The government has taken a stand of not penalising car use and has even focused on 'traffic easing', code for chopping down trees (something else that fights emissions) to make more space for cars. This backwards approach to Avoid-Shift-Improve - concentrating on the 'Improve' (but only for cars) is that there is often no public interest in the (modal) shift and avoid bits, with human nature taking the path of least resistance.

Clearly, the government will need to double or even quadruple its efforts to encourage people out of their cars and into other modes and there is nothing on the horizon yet, apart from a few experimental cycle lanes in a strategy of only 'where there is space' just won't cut it. This especially true when you realise that in the Avoid-Shift-Improve model, cycle lanes are not for cyclists but, to quote Chris Boardman, Manchester's Cycling and Walking Commissioner, for car drivers who need to feel safe enough to swap his or her car for a bike.

This also has serious benefits for car drivers. Cycling superhighways in London, where congestion is much higher, moves the same number of people as five to six car lanes. That's some serious space-making for other car drivers who can't switch - and virtually for nothing. Importantly, it works but, remember, we need to make cycle lanes and roads on which car drivers on bicycles can feel safe.

 

Jim Wightman

PRO BAG Malta