City folk cool over bike-hailing service, cite safety as main concern
KUCHING: Enthusiasm among city folk over bike-hailing services potentially being made available here appears to be lacking, with some expressing concern over the safety of such service.
Car sales advisor Mohamad Adzha Annuar, 45, said while such service may provide a convenient alternative for those who need to get somewhere fast during rush hour, the safety risk faced by the passenger outweighs any potential benefit.
“For those who need to travel fast, especially during rush hour, it is good but will the riders of such service comply with the safety requirements?” he said when contacted yesterday.
He said he does not foresee bike-hailing services becoming a big hit – at least with Kuchingites – as the traffic congestion here does not even come close to what folk in Kuala Lumpur experience.
He pointed out it is relatively easy to use cars here compared to the nation’s capital, which is why he feels Kuchingites in general would still prefer driving their own vehicles.
On Jan 1, Malaysia’s own startup Dego Ride hit the streets with over 700 approved riders operating in Putrajaya, Shah Alam and Klang Valley.
Joining Dego Ride a few days later was Grab, albeit currently only in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur.
According to its app, Grab’s base fare for its bike-hailing service is RM3.70 with an additional 55 sen for each kilometre between 3km to 5.5km, and an additional RM1 over 5.5km, along with a service fee of 30 sen.
Companies operating bikehailing services must provide insurance coverage for pillion riders and motorcyclists.
The launch of bike-hailing comes after the federal government announced Nov 1 last year that it would allow such services as a means to improve on the last-mile connectivity for public transportation system.
The companies will be allowed to offer rides under a six-month Proof of Concept pilot project to assess the system, while awaiting laws to be passed to regulate the service.
For 26-year-old project engineer Ivance Kumpang, he said the thought of getting drenched in a sudden downpour while using the service does not really appeal to him, especially when going to work.
“The weather here is unpredictable and it can rain at anytime. I believe not everyone will want to travel on a motorcycle when it rains if they have the option not to.
“But whatever it is, it’s really down to the individual whether he or she is willing to get soaked during a ride,” he added.
Both Mohamad Adzha and Ivance, however, felt that such service may appeal to tourists and thus would be a good addition to the city’s transportation options, particularly for shorter distances.
Meanwhile, Louis Ngui, who works as a human resource manager in Brunei, felt that bike-hailing services offered an alternative means of economical public transportation, and is also quicker to navigate through traffic jams.
“It is good for those who only need to travel shorter distances although probably not as safe as travelling in a car. It (bikehailing) will be more suitable in bigger cities like Kuala Lumpur,” said the 68-year-old, from Miri.