THE proposal to ban high- powered motorcycles on the North-South Highway by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu received a mixed reaction from the public.

 

When The Malay Mail conducted a street poll yesterday, some supported the proposal saying that superbikes were a menace on the highways. Others said superbikes are supposed to run at high speed on the highways.

Samy Vellu was quoted as saying that the move is necessary as the motorcyclists endangered the lives of other highway users.

Here are the their views:

 

- Shankar Ganesh, 31, managing director and a superbiker from Kota Kemuning:

"What's the point of us paying the road tax if we are not allowed to ride on the highways"

We can't be using the trunk roads that are unpredictable, uneven and filled with potholes which endanger the riders.?

 

- Emir Ezhar Abdul Jabar, 26, assistant co-ordinator from Pantai Dalam:

"Motorcyclists are always exposed to danger. They shouldn?t be forced to use the trunk roads or alternative routes. It's not fair, the trunk roads are not safe."

 

- Shafinaz Ibrahim, 23, public relations officer from Shah Alam:

"It's a good move since superbikes on the highways are a threat to other users. But, there must be proper enforcement.

Even on the Federal Highway, some motorcyclists do not ride on the lane provided, blatantly using the main road instead.

 

- Mohd Yusof Ismail, 31, technician from Bangsar:

"There is no need for such a proposal. We have traffic rules. If a biker is caught speeding, riding recklessly or breaking traffic rules, he can be charged or issued with summonses.

Besides, superbikes have more safety features than normal motorcycles, so they?re much safer than ordinary motorcycles."

 

- Ronald Tan, 32, designer from Damansara Utama:

"Superbikers have been a menace on the highways. Just because their motorcycles are powerful, the bikers speed and squeeze their way through the fast lanes, endangering other motorists. They're also less considerate of other road users while riding, especially on convoys."

 

- Ahmad Sukri Hussein, 48, general worker from Bangsar:

"It's not right to ban superbikes just because of some superbikers who have misused the highways to race. Furthermore, most of them use the emergency lane."

 

- Lydia Elisa Andrew, 25, customer service executive from Brickfields:

"It's a pity for those with a passion for big bikes and convoys.

It would be better to have enforcement officers monitor the superbikers on the highways rather than banning them. If they break the rules, issuing them with summonses is more practical."

 

Mazlan Talib, 30, despatch rider from Kuala Lumpur:

"Once, a superbiker overtook me in high speed. Luckily, I could control my motorcycle. It's a good move to ban high-powered bikes from the North-South Highway, especially during festive seasons."