Kappara Project: bicycle NGO says ‘it’s time to be politically brave’

The Bicycle Advocacy Group welcome the Kappara project, but put forth requests, in order to make life easier for bicycle riders and pedestrians

'It’s time to invest in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and make that efficient if we want to encourage it', said the Bicycle Advocacy Group
'It’s time to invest in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and make that efficient if we want to encourage it', said the Bicycle Advocacy Group

Local NGO, the Bicycle Advocacy Group (B.A.G) welcomed the Kappara Project, but asked new Transport Minister Ian Borg to “be brave”.

While congratulating the minister on the completion of the two bridge spans of the project, the group asked for the road diversions, which were put in place during the construction phase, to be changed back as promised, before the start of the school term.

“Many roads became cycling no goes as bus lanes were removed, roads made into dual carriageways and one way to facilitate car traffic”, said the group. These changes have proven to be “huge barriers to people on bicycles and bicycle commuters”.

The group went on to add that car use has been easier by means of better infrastructure and therefore, “we need to do the same with people on bicycles and people walking”. They stated that there can be no "mass transit system if we cannot lay the foundations for it", hence why, "it's time to invest in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and make that efficient", they said.

The group called on Ian Borg to be “politically brave and reverse the hierarchy of road users to prioritise walking, cycling and bus or mass transit use”.