Mere promises for more bike access aren’t enough

I refer to your article ‘Bike rental scheme to spread,’ (Cyprus Mail, September 16) .
Though I applaud all those who are involved in this imaginative scheme, I would like to raise the fact that, on its own, this is not enough. Without the correct infrastructure, and changes in the mentality of the public, I fear the scheme is doomed to fail.
Specifically, I refer to the availability of cycle paths and lanes. In some areas, the municipalities have really made an effort, such as in the case of Aglandjia, and the cycle/pedestrian path from Strovolos to Lakatamia.
However, in the case of the cycle lanes in the Platy area, these have been taken over by motorists, who seem to view them as free parking spaces. When cyclists point out that the lanes are actually for their use, they are invariably met with a range of responses, from complete indifference to open aggression.
Furthermore, though the cycle/pedestrian path of Strovolos-Lakatamia has two lanes, one for pedestrians and the other for cyclists, which incidentally are clearly labelled, no one bothers to use the correct lanes, leading to numerous confrontations. Particularly dangerous is the fact that most pedestrian use portable music players at the same time, so cannot hear any bikes coming up behind them.
I fully appreciate that the state cannot police everything we do, so in the case of the cycle/pedestrian path, one would hope that all who use it would show some common sense, so as to avoid their own injury, as well as that of others.
However, is it not possible for the cycle lanes in the Platy area to be regularly patrolled by traffic wardens, assuming that this is indeed a parking offence?
I wonder, is it so difficult for us Cypriots to curb our selfish behaviour and show a little respect to our fellow citizens?

Haig Assadourian
Engomi-Nicosia