In some places the vegetation protrudes so much onto the carriageway that they are forced to move out into the centre of the road, risking being run over by passing cars : for cyclists travelling along the Strada statale 195 , bushes and oleander plants represent a constant threat.
Omar Vargiu, a cyclist from Sarroch, trains along the Sulcitana route five times a week, tackling the road every inch of the way to Teulada. He's identified the most dangerous sections for cyclists and motorbikes : "The oleanders are one of the main threats because they invade the roadway . In Villa San Pietro and Pula, there are several points where we're forced to leave the edge of the road to avoid them. Also worrying, however, are the roots of the pine trees along the stretch that runs alongside Forte Village: the asphalt is raised in several places, and cyclists are constantly at risk of falling."
Graziano Mallus, president of PulSar, the sports club that brings together dozens of local cyclists, explains how vegetation and uneven asphalt force cyclists to abandon the white line at several points : "Riding the 195 means having to constantly zigzag to avoid obstacles. Between unpruned oleanders and asphalt lifted by pine tree roots, the risk of falling or being hit is just around the corner. The situation on the stretch of road near Forte Village is paradoxical: the strip where pine trees have distorted the road surface was marked off three years ago, but nothing has changed since then."
Mayor Walter Cabasino explains how the stretch of highway 195 that runs through Pula poses a threat to anyone who uses it: "There are still too many at-grade intersections. For years, we've been waiting for a roundabout to be built at key points like the intersection with Via Masenti, which has been the scene of fatal traffic accidents in the past, but nothing has been done. The lack of bike lanes and unsafe intersections are compounded by the problem of wild animals crossing the road, a problem that has never been resolved despite the constant traffic accidents in recent years."
ANAS has announced plans to eliminate the hazards that make Strada Statale 195 dangerous for cyclists: "The clearing of the ditches is a good thing, but we're also planning to prune the trees bordering the road. Within two weeks, we'll address all the areas where vegetation is an obstacle. Regarding the pine tree roots that have burrowed under the asphalt, the work to resolve the problem will be completed in the next few days."