Cycling group expresses concern at EU pollution survey

The Bicycling Advocacy Group Malta expressed its “deep concern” at the results which emerged recently in a survey carried out by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on pollution.

The study showed that Malta was one of 11 countries identified as ‘underperforming’ with regard to pollution from industry emissions, whilst also having “persistently high” emissions from urban transport.

In a recent Eurobarometer survey, Maltese commuters placed air pollution as being the second highest concern (95%) compared to traffic congestion (97%) for urban commuters.

“We suggest that the government launches a ‘FairAir’ campaign, aimed at catching vehicle emissions polluters in the act rather than relying on voluntary public sponsored emissions reporting,” a statement issued by the group said.

It said that a mere 21 vehicles failed emissions testing after being reporting through an SMS reporting system in 2012.

“With only 34% of Maltese respondents in the Eurobarometer survey feeling that they themselves should be responsible for reducing traffic and thereby traffic pollution, we suggest that it is time for government to get tough on vehicle emissions,” it said, whilst pointing out that it was ‘only fair’ to other drivers, road users and citizens who would then have to incur potential health costs as a result of pollution.

The group also suggested that by voluntarily taking a bus, walking or using a bike, car drivers could help to avoid more “draconian measures” like that taken by Paris recently, where Parisians could only use their cars on alternate days, according to the number plate.

Promoting cycling, it said, was a way of sidestepping such measures, believeing such a system to benefit everyone.

The group also outlined a recent study, published in Le Monde, which suggested that cyclists might actually be at a lower risk from air pollution, when compared to the usage of other modes of transport.