Poor participation by Maltese candidates in EU-wide cycling survey

Only three Maltese MEPs responded to a Europe-wide survey on cycling mobility.

Alternattiva Demokratika’s Arnold Cassola and the Nationalist Party’s Ray Bugeja and Kevin Plumpton were the only three MEP candidates – from 32 – who took part in the European Cycling Federation’s pre-election survey.

Plumpton, according to the Bicycling Advocacy Group (B.A.G.), was the only candidate who said he cycled.

A total of 364 candidates across the EU contesting the European Parliament elections took part in the survey with 90% of candidates stating an overwhelming support for the ECF’s proposals.

The B.A.G. said Cassola, Bugeja and Plumpton answered favourably to the ECF’s survey questions that also included more general road safety issues.

89% of the candidates said the EU should raise air quality standards in line with guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.

92% also said the EU should recommend that member states should integrate the benefits of daily cycling into health policies and transport appraisals.

“This seemed to indicate that candidates from the 23 countries that actually took part in the survey were picking up on the annual €120billion that cycling can save across the EU, in reduced pollution, congestion and particularly healthcare costs due to higher levels of physical activity,” the cyclists said.

Congestion may also have been high on the candidates’ agenda with 89% in favour of including a mandate to force EU states to fully integrate cycling into the transport system. 96% were in favour of making motorized vehicles safer for pedestrians as well as cyclists.

The B.A.G. expressed its pleasure that candidates “were able to grasp” the bigger picture.

“Candidates are seeing cycling as a transport mode and a proactive way of helping, even in a small way, to solve Malta's appalling congestion, air pollution and parking problems,” B.A.G.

The group pointed out that in the Eurobarometer survey on urban transport, 97% of Maltese respondents were most

concerned about congestion and 95% air pollution, in relation to their daily travel needs.

“Significantly, although the Maltese are often at the bottom of cycling surveys, they seem to be on top in surveys about traffic congestion and pollution, being the most likely of all Europeans to be concerned about these issues.”