Addressing a press conference in Marsaskala, where a bicycle lane has been converted into parking spaces, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Deputy Chairperson, Carmel Cacopardo, said:”AD has called this press conference in support of the cycling community. To date we complained that the road network generally ignores cyclists. Now we are going an additional step backwards: one of the few facilities available to assist cyclists is being removed. AD calls on the Marsaskala Local Council to revise its decision.”
James Craig Wightman from the Bicycling Advocacy Group (BAG) said:”We are deeply concerned that we are removing one of the few built cycling infrastructures, and the expectation is for people on bicycles to solve this, by being actually invited to break the law and use the promenade. That’s not only a very confusing situation, the loss of a cycling infrastructure, even a poor one like this, goes against what’s happening in other developed countries with similar parking and congestion problems. What Marsaskala should be doing now is creating a cycle lane that gives cyclists the same or even better level of protection and efficiency, including a contraflow facility that the old path offered.”
AD spokesperson on energy, transport and infrastructure Ralph Cassar reiterated that it is a shame that instead of increasing facilities for different forms of transport and for physical exercise in public spaces, the only purposely built cycling lane, albeit only available during certain times of the day and frequently blocked by cars, is being removed. What are the reasons behind this decision? Is Transport Malta involved in any way, maybe in pressuring the Council to take such a decision?”
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Mezzi differenti ta’ trasport jingħataw il-ġenb Waqt konferenza stampa f’Marsaskala fejn passaġġ għar-roti inbidel f’parkeġġ d-Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika Carmel Cacopardo, qal:”AD sejjħet din il-konferenza stampa b’appoġġ għall-komunita’ taċ-ċiklisti. S’issa l-problema kienet li t-toroq tagħna tinjora kompletament liċ-ċiklisti, issa morna pass ieħor lura: faċilita’ rari f’Malta ta’ passaġġ għar-roti tneħħa. Nappellaw lill-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Marsaskala ibiddlu d-deċiżjoni tagħhom.”
James Craig Wightman mill-Bicycling Advocacy Group (BAG) qal:”Nisabu mħassba ħafna dwar it-tneħħija ta’ waħda mill-unika passaġġ għar-roti, l-messaġġ li qed jingħata huwa biex min juħa r-rota juża l-bankina minflok, avolja kontra l-liġi. Avolja dan il-passaġġ kellu d-difetti tiegħu, dawn id-difetti kellhom jitranġaw. Qed nagħmlu bil-kontra ta’ pajjiżi oħra bi problemi ta’ konġestjoni u parking minħabba ammont kbir ta’ karozzi. Li għandu jagħmel il-Kunsill ta’ Marsaskala huwa li joħloq passaġġ għar-roti li jagħti sigurta’ lil min juża r-roti, b’kunċetti bħal ‘contraflow’ u mhux jbiddel l-passaġġ f’parkeġġ.”
Ralph Cassar, kelliem ta’ AD dwar l-enerġija, t-trasport u l-infrastruttura temm jgħid:’Hija ħasra u nuqqas ta’ viżjoni li minflok jaraw kif jiżdiedu l-faċilitajiet kemm għal forom ta’ trasport differenti kif ukoll għal eżrecizzju fiżiku f”spazji pubbliċi, l-uniku triq mal-kosta f’żona urbana b’passaġġ għar-roti – li diġa kien ristrett għal ċerti ħinijiet tal-ġurnata u kellu l-porblemi tiegħu bħal parkjar illegali li kien jimblokka l-passaġġ – issa qed jitneħħa għal kollox. Ta’ min inkunu nafu min huma l-Kunsilliera li ddeċidew dan u r-raġunjiet li fuqha ibbażaw id-deċiżjoni tagħhom. Nistaqi wkoll jekk kienx hemm l-involviment jew xi pressjoni minn Transport Malta biex jitneħħa l-passaġġ għar-roti’.
