The new Coast Road would include cycle lanes paved in red asphalt and lined with rumble strips to alert drivers who cross the mark, a Transport Malta spokesman said.

“The driver of any vehicle crossing into or out of the cycle lane will be alerted by feeling vibrations from the wheels,” the spokesman explained, adding that the transport watchdog was working on making roads safer for cyclists.

The coast road, leading from Pembroke to St Paul’s Bay, will be rebuilt, widened, realigned and upgraded in a Transport Malta project that aims to make the whole stretch safer and reduce accidents at junctions and bends.

Shirley Micallef – whose husband, Cliff, was killed in a hit-and-run incident while cycling along the coast road three years ago – said last month that more had to be done to make roads safer for cyclists.

She pointed out that the cycle lanes were fading and their sorry state was also mentioned in a Facebook group called Campaign in Favour of Safer Roads for Cyclists, which has attracted about 300 likes so far.

“Regretfully, cycle lanes are hard to come by... The few cycle lanes that exist… end abruptly without any warning.

“Needless to say, this puts cyclists in serious danger having to pull out unexpectedly into traffic,” the group said.

It feels that cycle lanes should be inspected and maintained on a daily basis to ensure they are kept clear of hazardous objects such as protruding branches.

Asked what action was being taken to make the coast road safer, the watchdog said it would be issuing tenders to reconstruct the whole stretch.

Cycle lanes were provided wherever possible in new areas and the authorities’ national road safety plan, which was recently published for consultation, should be completed by 2013.

“We are working on a road safety strategy with other entities,” the spokesman said.

“We have had regular meetings with organisations representing cyclists… to discuss road safety policy, legislation and to present road plans that are in the process of being prepared for feedback.”

Transport Malta said it had organised road safety skills sessions for 4,556 schoolchildren since January.

10 golden rules for motorists

1.Drive carefully. Respect the needs of others, be they pedestrians or cyclists. Treat cyclists as legitimate road users and do not hassle them.

2.Anticipate potentially dangerous situations on the road.

3.Allow enough space for cyclists when overtaking. In many European countries a space of one metre is obligatory.

4.Take care when emerging from a side road - remember cyclists are less visible than cars.

5.If there is a cycle lane do not drive close to the white line. Cycle lanes are often not kept clean and cyclists are forced to ride along the outside edge to avoid punctures.

6.Take great care when taking a left turn in the vicinity of cyclists.

7.Take care when opening the car door. Look back and make sure a cyclist is not approaching.

8.Always signal intentions in advance when turning into a side road in case a bicycle is following you.

9.Cyclists (and other motorists) get easily blinded by car headlights – dip lights when main beam is not necessary.

10.Do not hoot at cyclists to get out of your way. They are going as fast as they can.

Compiled by cyclist and environmentalistGeorge Debono for The Times in August 2009.