Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1496720
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 APRIL 2023 OPINION The Maltese obsession with cars means that motorcycles remain a niche vehicle used by those bold or foolish enough to cut through the anarchic traffic that exists on most roads Daniel Xerri is an educator Daniel Xerri ON a Friday in March, a van drove out of a side street and smashed into my leg as I was riding my motorcycle. That was the start of a painful journey of recovery and an evaluation of whether my preferred mode of transport was reasonable in the chaotic traffic scenario that pre- vails in this country. I used my motorcycle to com- mute to work every morning. My decision to learn how to ride a bike and get the full licence was mainly prompted by the need to reduce commuting times and fa- cilitate my search for parking. It was my small way of doing some- thing about the traffic problem, even though I was not really do- ing it for altruistic purposes. Besides making commuting easier, riding a motorcycle is an enjoyable activity for many oth- er reasons. The sense of freedom it gives you and the connection you establish with the outside environment are priceless. This is why I preferred using my bike whenever I could. Travelling up to Italy for a week on my motorcycle was an experi- ence that I valued because it freed me from the massive amount of traffic that chokes Maltese roads on a daily basis. It also meant be- ing able to enjoy the countryside and seaside views from a prime seat, landscapes that in Malta have become the domain of fren- zied construction. But despite the eyesores that spoil many of the Maltese places we journey through and leisure or reside in, there are still a few gems I can appreciate for now. One of these is a seaside cafe at Qawra Point. I had long made it a habit to wake up early and ride to this cafe for an hour's reading before I started my workday. While the demands of work meant that I could only afford to do this once or twice a week, it was something I looked forward to. Simple pleas- ures have always gone a long way towards making me happy. I was not interested in expen- sive cappuccinos or flat whites from the coffee shop chains. I was not impressed by a shop's de- cor, trendy music playlist, or fan- cy couches. What I sought was a quiet seat in the open air with a view of the sea. And of course, riding to the cafe and back were a major part of the pleasure of these morning outings. Ironically, my accident took place on one of these outings. Not during my daily commute to work through some of the busiest roads in this country. Not while filtering in between cars driven mainly by single occupants. Not while defying death as a result of the senseless manoeuvres of driv- ers who seem oblivious to bikers. Being a biker entails accepting the fact that for the most part you are invisible. The Maltese obsession with cars means that motorcycles remain a niche vehi- cle used by those bold or foolish enough to cut through the anar- chic traffic that exists on most roads. But why should it be this way if bikes are part of the solu- tion rather than the problem? My choice to ride a motorcy- cle does not seem to be properly supported by traffic enforcement mechanisms and car drivers' ad- herence to road etiquette. When I am on my bike, I lose track of the number of drivers I see using their phones or chang- ing lanes without indicating. The fines for such violations are still insignificant, but the cost to the biker who is on the receiving end of such utter disrespect can be life altering if not fatal. Of course, bikers can be just as bad when it comes to infringe- ments, but the crucial difference is that their errors are ones they normally only pay for themselves. The lack of discipline on Mal- tese roads is leading to an ex- cessive number of fatalities and injuries. Just last year there were more than 15,700 traffic acci- dents, with 1,341 resulting in injuries and 28 in fatalities. A significant proportion of these figures involved bikers. Behind the anonymous statistics are the stories of men and women who lost their lives, were maimed or grievously injured. What is stopping the author- ities from adequately address- ing this national crisis? Why do we keep building new roads but not reforming the way peo- ple use them? Could it be that once you are important enough to be chauffeured around you lose sight of the everyday real- ities of those citizens who are being robbed of their time, ener- gy, health and lives because the traffic conditions in this country have been allowed to degenerate into a morass of despair? As I contemplate the long jour- ney that I have just embarked up- on, I cannot help but experience misgivings about whether I should go back to riding my motorcycle once I am fully recovered. I am angered by the fact that this country's traffic fiasco has not only impacted my wellbeing but also made me consider giving up something I love just because keeping at it might prove much worse next time. The human cost of Malta's traffic fiasco