Children’s Proposals for Bike Lanes and Traffic Safety in Malcesine
Many voices for a single request: a bike lane. All at once, the elementary school children made an incessant appeal to Mayor Giuseppe Lombardi, who was present at the awards ceremony for the road safety competition promoted by the municipal police with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Public Works Inspectorate. Alongside the mayor, listening to the suggestions from the younger generation were also the Culture Councilor Ferdinando Sbizzera, and City Councilors Clara Testi and Carlo Chincarini. Silently, in front of the innocence of the young students, they endured a barrage of criticism, observations, and advice all aimed at improving the traffic flow in the lakeside town. “It wasn’t easy,” admitted Principal Gigliola Gabos, a former mayor of Malcesine, at the start, “to select which works to award. The students, guided by their respective teachers, were very talented and proposed interesting ideas. The ranking is purely indicative, and everyone deserves sincere praise.”
Comments from students and proposals for traffic management
“I advise the mayor,” concluded Gabos, “to read the essays carefully and take to heart the suggestions from all the children.” To save time for Lombardi, the students themselves thought ahead. Invited onto the stage by Municipal Police Commander Luigi Bresaola, they read out with clear voices, slightly shaken by emotion, the results of their work. “Dear mayor,” began Sophia, “I heard that you want to remove the parking in Piazza Statuto and replace it with an aquarium. Instead of spending all those millions, why not use the money to build the bike lane?”
Specific responses and proposals from children
“I know it’s difficult,” intervened Lorenzo, “to find a place to build it, but in the meantime, we could establish Sundays as cycling and pedestrian days, even if sometimes to please some people, others are left disappointed.” “Our streets are dangerous because they are narrow and busy, but my advice,” said Chiara, “is to build the bike lane along the lake that goes from Navene to Cassone, so we kids could meet in the afternoon.” And not only that. “Think also of Malcesine’s economy: more tourists will come.” “The problem is the cars,” read Elisa confidently, remembering that “near the playground, cars pass by and risk hitting children.”
Traffic and safety issues
For Jessica, the problem is visibility. “When my mom drives out of our house by car, she can’t see the left side of the road because of the uncut trees. We go to tell the Municipality, and they tell us there’s a mirror. But the mirror only helps us see ourselves.” Extremely pragmatic, Maria Chiara asked: “Dear mayor, why did you decide to asphalt the white little road that runs alongside my beautiful country house?” “It’s not asphalt, but an eco-friendly bituminous binder,” Lombardi replied kindly, ready to thank the young students for their observations “expressed simply and convincingly.” “All I can tell you is that the bike lane will be built, and we just need patience.”
