Every time Limassol discusses traffic congestion, we cannot even agree on the basics, yet we always hope to solve the most complex problems. Whatever intervention is proposed, most people dislike it, while simultaneously demanding solutions, interventions and projects… for everyone else. We always treat Limassol as though it were a unique case with peculiarities and problems no other city in the world faces, as if we alone enjoy the privilege of heat, chaotic development and rapid population growth.
On Monday we were there once again. Another discussion about traffic, this time sparked by the infamous bollards that have caused such an uproar. We heard the same arguments all over again, without anything genuinely new being said. Ill-prepared councillors unable to grasp the basic principles of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, tearing down every project that has been completed or proposed. Hesitant public officials unable to defend the projects they are implementing, almost as if they do not fully believe in them themselves. A handful of populists repeating familiar nonsense. And a city unable to escape the chaos it created, trapped, quite literally, in its old ways.
In situations like this, the debate always drifts towards extremes. “You’re not going to force all of us to ride bicycles,” someone said, as if we had suddenly relocated to Utrecht and the number of cycle lanes had become so overwhelming that motorists were on the verge of rebellion. In reality, no roads have been abolished. We merely allocated a few lanes and built a handful of cycle paths. Is that really such a crime?
We also heard claims that “you don’t want elderly people in the city anymore, you want to be left alone,” as if older people can drive forever, rather than needing clean, unobstructed pavements where they can walk, as they do throughout the rest of the world.
We heard many things, most of them disappointing. I am not even sure they are worth discussing over and over again.
What is particularly irritating, however, is seeing people present themselves as active citizens with strong opinions on everything only when they lose the illegal parking space outside their house.
“We’re not against bike lanes, but…” It is that “but” which sounds so much like “I’m not racist, but…”, concealing the same hypocrisy. I have attended countless meetings in Limassol about traffic congestion. Yet there were people I saw for the first time only on Monday. One wonders why.
And one more thing.
Transport planners and urban planners explain that there are cities abroad with even harsher temperatures than ours that have successfully integrated micromobility into their transport systems. Yet some people simply refuse to listen because the facts undermine their preferred narrative and expose their stubbornness.
There is, however, a deeper hypocrisy that is uniquely Limassol’s.
They are often the same people who insist that our weather conditions are unsuitable for walking and cycling, yet just two weeks ago voted in favour of allowing Limassol Zoo to continue operating under those very same climatic conditions.
At some point, you have to make up your mind.
