PUT BRAKES ON BIKERS

Re: “Motorcyclists banned on all flyovers, underpasses”, BP Online, March 31.

Car drivers have stated that motorcycles should be banned on flyovers and underpasses because “motorcycles are slow and block their way, and cause accidents”. In addition, I believe that motorcycles should be banned on flyovers and underpasses because of their reckless driving behaviour.

Changing lanes recklessly or changing lanes without providing any indication is a very common behaviour of most motorcyclists in Bangkok even though the solid white lane markers on flyovers and underpasses indicate that changing lanes on a flyover or underpass is prohibited. Due to this behaviour of motorcyclists, as a car driver, I often have to slow down abruptly to avoid collision with a motorcycle.

The most important reason why motorcycles should be banned on flyovers is because of safety. Driving over the speed limit is a common habit of most motorcyclists in Bangkok. Because most flyovers do not have any shoulders, if a motorcyclist loses control due to speeding, which can happen in wet conditions, they could fall off the flyover.

Riding on the flyover and underpass is just one of the minor road safety issues regarding a motorcyclist in Bangkok. The bigger road safety concerns involving motorcyclists include running red lights and speeding. Since traffic congestion has made motorcycle a popular mode of transport in Bangkok, time has come to make this transport safe. To make it safe, the authorities needs to penalise motorcyclists for running red lights and speeding. Furthermore, motorcyclists riding on the sidewalk should be penalised as well and this habit needs to be discouraged socially because this is creating an unsafe environment for pedestrians.

Ridwan Quaium