21/06/2012 00:00
TW
0

Palma.—Palma's citizens' cycling organisation “PalmaEnBici” (Palma by bicycle) yesterday presented its recommended routes for bike riders in the city.
Spokesman Stefan Nolte (pictured above right) said that the proposals have been prompted by what he described as “attacks” being made on the cycling community in Palma by the City Council currently ruled by the Partido Popular under Mayor Mateo Isern.

According to “PalmaEnBici” the routes the organisation has drafted have been based on a mobility study compiled in a doctoral thesis by Roads Engineer Hugo Badía in 2009. “A the moment, only expert cyclists dare use the main road arties of Palma such as Calle Aragon and Calle Manacor,” said Nolte. “The less experienced amongst us chose to use the pavements but since the new City Council bylaws have come into force, that option is now illegal so we have to use parallel roads where traffic isn't so heavy.” Nolte explained that the routes he and “PalmaEnBici” are recommending are in fact largely in place under the already-existing cycle lanes in the city. “There are opportunities where cyclists could extend their rides but the tracks aren't sufficiently linked up,” he said. “We'd need the City Council to intervene and make sure that cyclists are given right of way at points where they are likely to clash with traffic.” The recommendations put forward yesterday included a plea to the City Council to make exceptions in banning cyclists from pavements and pedestrian only streets.

Palma's Mobility Councillor, Gabriel Vallejo, said later yesterday the proposals had been well received but cost might prove a barrier to implementation.