A later artist’s impression of the finished project suggests that the layout will remain exactly the same.  The “new pavement” alongside the sea front remains as narrow as possible – to give more space to cars, of course. There is no sign whatsoever of a cycle track. Such a cycle track could eventually link up with others in the future and form part of a continuous protected cycleway which could theoretically stretch from Spinola to Pieta - or further.  But in Malta we remain firmly stuck with the car getting the lion’s share of space.

The artist’s impression (photo) is a perfect reflection of the dreary situation in pedestrian-unfriendly Malta.  It seems that €750,000  taxpayers money  is being needlessly spent on replacing a huge expanse of tarmac (which is in good order) by an  identical expanse of  tarmac.

This once more replicates the antiquated pattern of giving as much space to traffic with no concession to other road users -  be these  pedestrians, children or cyclists. What seem odd about the design is that the designer was obsessed with providing maximum space for cars to move while ignoring the obvious need to provide parking facilities for both visitors and boat owners.

The picture shows two motorway-wide roads (where drivers will be tempted to speed) and parallel parked cars on either side when a herring-bone car park pattern would probably double the parking capacity. With ingenuity two rows of parked cars can be accommodated – after all, the roadway on the seaward side is way too wide - and would only encourage dangerous speeds.  With more imaginative design, the threefold needs of car parking, pedestrian recreation and bicycle users could all be met. Surely a simple two-way roadway is quite sufficient.

The poor design as suggested in the artist’s impression is exemplified in most of our urban areas where pavements are as narrow as possible in roads to allow as much space for vehicles. Such antiquated design renders hypocritical the pious intentions expressed in so many past government reports about “focusing on the promotion of walking and cycling for short distance trips”…… “encouraging a modal shift from private transport to public transport, walking and cycling” … and “ encouragement of more sustainable modes of transport  as an alternative to the private car”.

This unimaginative, old-fashioned approach contrasts with the modern attitude in most European towns and cities where a revolution has taken place. Roads evolved into attractive paved pedestrian- and cycle-friendly spaces which encourage people to walk or use a bicycle. 

Even transit roads and commuting routes now mostly include cycleways so as to encourage people to cycle, thus helping ease traffic congestion.  A recent EU paper, ADONIS (Analysis and Development of New Insights into Substitution of Short Car Trips by Cycling and Walking), emphasises the interests and health of road users. 

This paper aims to provide guidelines “for providing an environment which will stimulate cycling and walking, thus reducing the number of short trips by car”. The report starts by looking at new and promising measures being taking in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Brussels. The philosophy behind this report is that people will use means other than the car for short trips only when they have good facilities.  Malta is still hopelessly far away from this ideal.