Older people are often the main victims of the uncivil behaviour of some cyclists and people who travel on electric scooters. In order to study the impact that the proliferation of these mobility vehicles is having on older people, the municipal group of Junts has agreed with the municipal government headed by the socialist Jaume Collboni to evaluate the impact of the circulation of bicycles and scooters on the daily lives of the elderly with the aim of correcting, if necessary, any measures to improve their safety and comfort.
Francina Vila, a councillor for the group chaired by former Barcelona mayor Xavier Trias, has pointed out in the commission for Ecology, Urban Planning, Mobility and Housing that mobility in the Catalan capital has changed with the appearance of new modes of transport. She has warned that the promotion of cycling cannot be at the expense of reducing accidents among the most vulnerable groups.
The proposal was approved with the favorable votes of Junts, PSC, PP and Vox.
Six months to prepare a report
The approved text urges the municipal government to carry out, within 6 months, a diagnosis of the state of perception of mobility and road safety through a victimization survey among the elderly and people with reduced mobility to assess the impact that bicycles and personal mobility vehicles have on their daily travel on sidewalks, single platforms, boulevards, pedestrian crossings, green axes and other spaces for pedestrians.
A statistical study will also be carried out between ambulance services, emergency services and traumatology services in hospitals to create a real record of accidents caused by collisions between pedestrians and these vehicles.
Once the corresponding reports are available, with the participation of the Advisory Council for the Elderly and the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities, a specific plan will be promoted to “reverse the loss of safety and comfort of the elderly and people with reduced mobility in public spaces.”
Councillor Vila added that “collisions on pavements and pedestrian crossings between personal mobility vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians are constant and we are concerned.” “Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or people with reduced mobility, see their comfort at risk. Barcelona should be kind to everyone, but we are making a city for certain groups; if you are not 30 years old and you move around by bike, the city is wilder,” said the Junts councillor.
Vote against ERC and the Commons
Francina Vila recalled that in Barcelona most of the mobility is done on foot and that “we must protect these journeys on foot; there is a clamour to put order in the scooters, to protect spaces for citizens”.
The Junts group has regretted the votes against by ERC and Barcelona en Comú.
Source: www.lavanguardia.com
