Palma traders worried over safety of cycle lanes

PALMA
PALMA shop keepers yesterday voiced their fears about the possible dangers all the new cycle lanes could pose in the city centre.
According to the Small Business Association Pimeco, many of its members claim that the cycle lanes are being put down far too quickly and with little thought.

The association has been out canvassing its members about the immediate and secondary effects of the new bicycle lanes along the Avenidas in Palma and the general consensus of opinion is that they are causing chaos.

However, most traders said that until all the building works are finished, it “will be difficult to assess” what the impact of the new bicycle lanes in the Avenidas will be. But, traders are already worried about the possibility of accidents, because people in Palma are not used to making allowances for the rights of way of cyclists, pedestrians, motorbike riders and four-wheel vehicle drivers all at the same time. The traders also said that the new school term is about to start shortly so that traffic will “be that much heavier”, and that as a result, “jams will be worse.” The traders cast doubt on the wisdom of the decision of the City Council in opening the bicyle lanes at the same time as the start of the new school term.