Are you ready to cycle?
Aware2cycle - Bicycle Awareness Day
Too much traffic, no place to park, stuck for an hour in the same place; the list goes on. A quick and easy solution to this is - using your bicycle!
Cycling offers an alternative way of commuting, especially for short distances. More experienced cyclists can take on longer distances, and may become their daily mode transport. But don’t be overwhelmed by this, it’s really not that tough! Let’s get some facts right. Firstly, cycling is cheap, with no significant running costs, save the occasional maintenance. It’s easy to ride, once you get the hang of it! It’s quick - you can rush through traffic, which is possibly the safest time to ride. It’s fun - riding past all those stuck cars driven by solo-drivers. Moreover you don’t need to worry about spending more time to find a parking spot. Cycling is also healthy, which brings us to our second point. Using your bike is good exercise for your muscles, heart and overall physique. If you’re riding through polluted area, wear a face mask as it prevents you from inhaling dirty air. Thirdly, cycling contributes to a cleaner environment. The only fuel it uses is the food you put in your body, and it is the single most efficient way of getting around in terms of calories/distance.. All you need to get around is physical energy and therefore, food for your tummy. One less car on the road means less air pollution; less noise and more space for others, including cyclists themselves. So, what’s keeping many people from cycling? To start off with, many roads in Malta do not have dedicated bike lanes, which means cyclists have to share the road with vehicles, which may be intimidating for some. Another issue is many people fear their lives due to increasing number of road accidents. Lack of skill or negligence from either cyclists, drivers or both, are increasingly becoming a problem on the roads. The safest place to be, many people perceive, is inside a metal box. Malta’s climate and topography are also challenging, with the hills and heat, it really takes some practice to get used to them! What can we do to get more people on their bicycles? Firstly, you need a bicycle and some practice. There are a few open spaces where one can learn how to properly ride a bicycle and one may practice in areas where there aren’t too many cars. One good location would probably be Ta’ Qali. Find a friend who knows how to ride and ask them for some guidance, or else cycling groups may be of help to get started whilst meeting new people and exploring the island by bike. If you don’t own a bicycle, you can opt for bike sharing. such as NextBike. This company offer bikes which you can use for commuting or leisure amd which is very easy to use. To wrap up, cycling is a great way of getting around. Whilst most people still venerate their cars, there is a growing community of cyclists and activists who are changing the game and striving their best to make Malta’s roads more attractive for cycling! What are you waiting for? Go try it out. N.B: The IASSO Team will be organising a Bicycle Awareness Day at MCAST. More details can be found here. |
AuthorIASSO Team |