NGOs call for rethink of Msida pedestrian bridge, warn it compromises safety

NGOs are urging a rethink of the Msida pedestrian bridge arguing it would not have pedestrian safety in mind but would simply serve to ease traffic flow.

In a joint statement on Thursday issued by Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth and cycling advocacy group Rota, the NGOs pointed out there was a “glaring lack of transparency” on why the bridge was being proposed “without consultation, and was imposed on the communities, after it had been shot down six years ago”.

They insisted the “obvious” alternative to a bridge is a level crossing with pelican lights which would help move large numbers of people at a time.

“Street-level crossings are high-capacity public infrastructure, while lifts are inherently slow, restrictive and unreliable. Replacing street-level crossings with lifts or bridges drastically reduces accessibility, efficiency, and inclusiveness in busy urban areas,” the NGOs said.

They also pointed at a reporting system developed by Rota which indicated the lifts at pedestrian bridges were reported to be out-of-order 350 times over the past two and a half years.

“This takes into account only people who reported the damage, the actual number is therefore likely much higher,” the NGOs said.

They insisted that rather than crossing the road quickly and safely, using pelican lights, the pedestrians would have to take a longer route, going up multiple stories or ramps, or relying on elevators “that are often not working”.

Safety was another concern the NGOs raised, arguing a bridge at that particular point – across the busy Kulleġġ bus stop - “would pose a safety hazard, not a safety measure”.

“It is not inconceivable for pedestrians to attempt crossing underneath the bridge, despite the risks of doing so. Furthermore, crossing a pedestrian bridge at night would not add to a feeling of safety for anyone trying to cross, and is likely to motivate pedestrians close by to use private vehicles instead.”

They added that the bridge would not be inclusive of the elderly and those with mobility issues, cyclists or those carrying items, or people with pushchairs.

“Similar bridges erected elsewhere in Malta – with the notable exception of the one in Blata l-Bajda – remain underutilized. Cyclists travelling from Valletta who would like to cross towards the Junior College area will have to depend on elevators rather than a simple level crossing, as will the many people with reduced mobility or with pushchairs using the crossing on a daily basis.”

While the Transport Minister claimed the bridge was the idea of Junior College students, the Msida Local Council complained they had not been consulted, pointing out that the bridge would cause a “big inconvenience to residents”.

“If the Government is serious about making mobility inclusive, safe and accessible, they would ensure that connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists is prioritised across all major infrastructural projects,” the NGOs said.