Provide designated lanes : E-Bicycle

2011/03/13 letters@nst.com

The minister acknowledged that electric bicycles were good for the environment, but the higher risk of death and injury from collision did not warrant their use and recommended that for environmental-friendly reasons, using a normal bicycle was still the best.

Unfortunately, the minister's advice that anyone could use a bicycle as there were no restrictions on its use appears to have been made without realising that there are not many roads in urban areas where bicycles can be used and even more, where bicycles are totally banned. 

There are also many roads where motorcycles are not allowed but for them, there are designated lanes.

His other reasons that there was no need to register an electric bicycle or obtain a driving licence, road tax, insurance or registration number, or that any young child would be able to use the electric bicycle without a crash helmet, which would lead to a much higher risk of accidents, appear to be excuses for banning the use of electric bicycles.
Even the Road Transport Department director-general is in favour of banning electric bicycles as their speed is more than 40km/h citing the reason that road safety studies have shown that bicycles that move at more than 20km/h pose a much higher risk of injury to pedestrians when both share the same lane. 

He further added that facilities for cyclists like special lanes were currently limited to residential areas and recreational parks, and cyclists who used routes other than designated ones would be exposed to the risk of accidents and contribute to the overall number of accidents.

It is obvious that both the ministry and RTD are aware of the benefits of the electric bicycles and the infrastructure needed to cater for them.
Both are also aware that the problem can be solved by providing designated lanes. Unfortunately, instead of rectifying the situation, both appear to subscribe to the view that electric bicycles should be banned. 

The present high rate of accidents and fatalities may be attributed to lack of effective enforcement of laws and weak penalties, not to mention periodical rewards to law breakers in the form of discounts for penalties. 

The reason for banning the environmental-friendly and energy-saving electric bicycle could be a move to protect the motorcycle and petrol industries, so that their profits would not be affected. 

Other developed and developing countries, including those in Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand and our neighbour, Singapore, are encouraging the use of bicycles and electric bicycles by providing designated lanes and other infrastructure. 

Other benefits of using bicycles and electric bicycles include better health for the users and a reduction in traffic jams, accidents and other associated costs.

GURSHARAN SINGH, Kuala Lumpur 

Rethink decision

I REFER to the recent suggestion by the Transport Ministry that the electric bicycle be banned.

Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said continuing to allow the use of electric bicycles could result in a higher risk of injury, or death.

I would like to bring the following 10 points to his attention:

1. Compare the statistics of accidents caused by electric bicycle users with motorcyclists';

2. Compare the behaviour of electric bicycle users to those of the Mat Rempit;

3. Compare the slow and calm speed of electric bicycle users with the atrocious "zooming" speed of motorcyclists;

4. Compare the environmental-friendly humming sound of electric bicycles with the modified loudness of the exhaust silencers of motorcyclists; 

5. Compare the number of electric bicycle users who daringly overtake vehicles with motorcyclists who act as dare devils;

6. Compare the speed ratio generated by electric bicycles with users of motorcycles;

7. Compare the respect given by electric bicycle users to pedestrians with users of motorcycles;

8. Compare the road safety awareness of electric bicycle users with users of motorcycles;

9. Compare the speed limitation of electric bicycles with motorcycles'; and, 

10. Compare the unfortunate ones who cannot afford to purchase a motorcycle, but an affordable electric bicycle.

 

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