Lately I bought an electric motor bike equivalent to 125hp. I still use my car, but hardly ever. In my years I always had a motor bike even before the use of helmets!
I would like to address the drivers behind the wheel of a car or a bigger vehicle.
Whenever I drive my car, I feel some anger and envy at the same time when I find myself stuck behind a snake of automobiles while those on bikes pass between us and get ahead as if there is no traffic jam!
Now that I own a two-wheeler I find myself doing the same thing, keeping safe, of course, but why not? When there is enough room and one is very diligent, I do not see why motorbikes have to jam themselves behind a car.
Cars have become too many for our roads and I do think that many will opt for a motorcycle to mobilise him or herself around town. I think that a sole driver in a car will become something of the past even looked down upon!
I would like to make note that it is believed that bikes are dangerous and should not be introduced as an option because cars are so much safer. While it is true, we ought to see why it is so.
The first thing that comes to mind is the swiftness a motorcycle revs up to and many accidents, even fatal, are caused because of access speed, but there is also the lack of precaution of other drivers in bigger vehicles.
A biker sometimes is cornered, sometimes obstructed sometimes tangled by car drivers. If this is true or not, it is difficult to assess.
What I know for sure is that there are far too many cars and the more people that change their driving wheel to a bike handle there will be less cars on the roads. If drivers learn to respect each other, cars to bikes and bikers to car drivers, then both will enjoy the road.
If all the single car drivers get a bike (electric of course) and leave their cars at home in the garage, imagine how many thousands of cars disappear from our midst. Yes there will be more bikes, but if we respect them and leave some small space for them to pass by in the centre of the road between cars, I think we will be helping to solve our traffic problems. More bikes equals less cars to navigate more freely and no more jams.
In Vietnam, Sri Lanka and many other countries, it is the two-wheeler who is The King of the Road and not the SUVs. It is a sight to hold as tens of bikes hold their stand on a red light and as soon as it turns green they go out in a herd and then you see the bigger vehicles throttle behind.
I think this is the way to go, more peddle bikes and motorised/peddle bikes and motorcycles and less cars. All drivers have to do their part. A two-wheeler should never occupy a car park.
I think the law is not clear about this that car park spaces are for cars and not large lorries or small bikes. Do not park between two parked cars not leaving any room for them to get out and so on and so forth. If we learn to respect each other than driving might once again become a joy to do.
Weather-wise we are blessed with long warm seasons. Lastly, may the road works focus a little bit on small roads in towns because we bike drivers do not usually use the big smooth highways but the neighbourhood roads, secondary roads, alleys and back roads which are all full of indentations created by the sewage pipes across the road in front of nearly each house.
When are we going to find a solution for this shameful affair? When someone needs to change the old drainage pipes, the road is cut and dug, pipes changed, gravel is thrown in, two heavy men dance on it to stump it down, a layer of tarmac is laid and after only a week or so the gravel gives in and the trench gauges in and poor me trying to hold on to the bike handle as I pass these furrows in every single road.
I am sure there are more positive ideas to go around about this. I believe it is time to look at the two-wheeler as the new best commute vehicle for one person or two.
I am 66 years old and I am loving it. I mostly use it to go around town but I also ventured to other villages.
May we be more diligent, stay safe, respect and be respected by all other drivers to share and enjoy our roads.
Anthony Zammit.
File photo
4 Comments To "Bikes, cars, or both? – By Anthony Zammit"
#1 Comment By Dietmar Treptow On April 24, 2022 @ 1:58 pm
I am 64 and i ldo not use my electric bike ( First on Malta and Gozo ! )
anymore . To dangerous !
But even the Bikers driving not at all like the rules.
Can not be to carry a Dog or anything else in the Hand!!!
Helmets are not closed!!!, and sometimes bare foot.
Overtaking left and right. Not using the indicator and, and, and.
#2 Comment By Anthony On April 24, 2022 @ 5:04 pm
It is very destructive in life to always look at the half empty glass like the saga of the trees at it-Tokk Square. Yet you are right, the glass is half empty but if we try to fill it up by kindness and educating both drivers, cars and bikes, we will one day soon be able to have a full glass to look at.
#3 Comment By Nigel Baker On April 24, 2022 @ 3:05 pm
Good for you Mr Zammit. You are doing your bit to try to reduce the congestion on Gozo’s roads.
#4 Comment By Anthony On April 24, 2022 @ 5:11 pm
Hi Mr. Baker. Sherlock will say, ‘elementary Mr. Watson, more 2 wheels on the road, the less 4 wheelers. More bikes, less cars, therefore it is a good idea for car owners to hope for more bikes which should give a better flow on our roads.