YOUR LETTERS

Regarding Jason Moore´s comments under the title “Pedal Power” He says “… Sorry I don´t believe … the quickest way to get around Palma is by bicycle …” I don´t know if he is a bike rider, but I am 69 years old, not an athlete, and do not own a racing bike. Last year, I cut my driving mileage down to about 1000k, primarily by biking. Working in Palma, I take the Porreres bus to the terminus, and can reach any of my needed locations in Palma (figure Porto Pi, Poble Espanyol, Escorxador, Son Hugo, Ciudad Jardi, and all inbetween) within 20 minutes by bike and without breaking any laws.

Yes, a car is faster when it is moving, but when cars are not moving, bikes are. So after every change of traffic light, cars pass me, but I not only catch up at the lights, but move to the head of the line for the next signal. A second point is that there are legal paths for bikes where cars can not go (pedestrian areas, parks, plaças, ramblas, etc.). A final factor missing from Moore´s calculations is parking. With a bike one parks at one´s destination, and cables the bike to a tree, rail, or official bike rack. With an auto one must not only add the distance and time to the parking place, process of paying for same, plus the walk to the actual destination.

In support of my position is a recent (18 September) article on this subject in a Spanish newspaper which compares transportation between Plaça d´Espanya and UIB.

Bike: 24 minutes, speed 15.0 kph, cost 0.11€ Auto: 26 minutes, speed 16.3 kph, cost 6.10€ Moto: 21 minutes, speed 20.0 kph, cost 2.84€ So before reaching conclusions such as Moore´s, one should consider all the factors.

Richard Goss, Porreres

Dear Sir,

As a British resident in Gotmar in the Port of Pollensa I wish to complain about the plans to pedestrianise a small area of the front line in the port which will send traffic down Avenida paris and through Pinaret,whose roads are narrow, and onto the new by pass road- if they can find it. I cannot understand the purpose of this closure and as a resident of Gotmar and a member of the neighbourhood association I would have expected an invitation from the council to the meeting I understand they had concerning this. Consultation with the electorate is not only desirable but is a part of EU law as stated in the EIA ( Environmental Impact Assessment) Directive, adopted by Spain in May 2003. Any pedestrianisation, be it a small section of the front line or the crazy idea of extending this to the new roundabout on the coast road to Alcudia must comply with this EU law and consult with the people affected. The residents in Gotmar lived in a tranquil, green area before the new by pass, and whilst we accept that some traffic has to come along it is unacceptable to put all the traffic through there. Why cannot motorists have the option of 2 routes into the port? This would then be fair to both areas and allow tourists to access the beach, shops and restaurants along the front. Tourism is a vital economy for the Port and to deny them access would in the end deter them from coming into the port. There is no parking provision in Gotmar or Pinaret only that along the front line and in the car park near Stay restaurant. If this is a temporary scheme then the council must follow the law and consult with the electorate, especially those who are directly affected. I look forward to their invitation!

Anne Gray, Pollensa