Nationalist MEP Francis Zammit Dimech has asked the European Commission if a revision of existing obligations for bicycle lanes in EU funded projects is being planned to ensure that roads constructed via EU funds have adequate cycling infrastructure to guarantee road safety for cyclists.
Speaking during a live Facebook session with a number of cyclists at the Coast Road, Zammit Dimech said: “The EU is associated with high standards. This is why cyclists expect that bicycle lanes, especially those on roads funded by the EU, are up to standard and provide a safety route for users. We have seen enough deaths on our roads.”
Zammit Dimech said that over the past days, he held meetings with the Bicycle Advocacy Group (BAG) and other cyclists, who outlined that the number of causalities of cyclists in Malta is on the rise. According to BAG, poorly-designed roads are putting cyclists in danger. In a recent case a cyclist was killed in a new road constructed through EU funding. Concerns have been raised that cycling infrastructure in newly EU funded projects is being kept at a bare minimum solely to fulfil obligations but failing to truly provide a safe lane for cyclists. Zammit Dimech raised a question with the European Commission to voice the concerns of cyclists.
Zammit Dimech said that several cyclists and BAG had spoken to him about the lack of awareness on safety of cyclists on the roads. For this reason, the MEP launched a cycling awareness campaign where cyclists will be urged to upload a photo on Facebook with their bike and include the hashtag #RespectCyclists. In return, participants will receive a high visibility jacket and a reflective strap.
Zammit Dimech said that even tough cyclists were promised a National Cycling Strategy, he was informed that to date there were no developments. He called on the government to present a National Cycling Strategy without any further delay. He also said that cyclists had to be duly consulted before projects are planned and that concrete action reflecting the proposals of cyclists had to be taken. Zammit Dimech emphasised that more consultation with cyclists was needed when developing policy and initiatives even at EU level.
In this regard, he also asked if the Commission was engaging with relevant inter-governmental organisations and stakeholders in Malta via the cycling contact appointed in DG MOVE.