The Malta Transport Authority, through its Traffic Management Unit, has embarked on a major project that aims to provide safe cycle lanes across the island, where the road width permits.

The first cycle lanes have been introduced along the Coast Road from the Swieqi traffic light junction to the St Paul’s Bay traffic light junction.

The Malta Transport Authority will, over the coming months, in line with the Transport White Paper, be promoting sustainable transport modes and is committed to encouraging a modal shift to the use of public transport, cycling and walking.

The ADT said that only 0.3 per cent of all trips are carried out by bicycle in Malta. Sustainable forms of transport such as cycling offer not only economic benefits but, more importantly, environmental and health benefits, the authority said.

Cycle lanes along Coast Road/St Paul’s Bay

The traffic light junction at St Paul’s Bay will be re-designed to cater for cyclists in a bid to ensure their safety. For safety purposes, the section at the junction designated for cyclists will be marked in green.

The main design principles adopted for the cycle routes are based on standard transportation planning criteria which include:

• Coherence: the cycling infrastructure is consistent in quality and continuous within the constraints of the existing road widths and road design;

• Directness: routes are based on existing cycling desire-lines;

• Attractiveness: routes have good street lighting and integrate with the surrounding areas;

• Safety: designs are such to reduce risk to cyclists and road users.

Although the design and the implementation of the cycle lanes cater for the safety of cyclists, the ADT said it was important that cyclists wore the appropriate gear and have their bicycles equipped as necessary.