If you’re a frequent traveller on the Federal Highway motorcycle lane, you would know that rain presents a very unideal riding condition in certain places. While the government has spent quite a sum of money for ‘improvements’, there are still several locations that get flooded to the point where one can actually open a fishing pool for avid anglers. (more…)
The white Toyota Vios driver who was caught on camera driving up the wrong way on the Federal Highway motorcycle lane near Mid Valley has surrendered himself the police last night. The video went viral yesterday where the rider recording suffered a minor crash trying to avoid the oncoming car. (more…)
Not again. Unfortunately, it has happened again and it’s a bit closer to home as we here at Bikes Republic plus thousands of other motorcyclists use this particular stretch of motorcycle lane on the Federal Highway. Another car was caught using the designated lane for motorcycles but this time, going the wrong way! (more…)
There have been many concerns regarding the overall safety of the ‘newly refurbished’ Federal Highway motorcycle lane regarding several issues. It seems that even car drivers want some of that bike lane action as a driver rolling around Mercedes-Benz was caught driving in the bike lane sometime yesterday (video can be seen below, excuse the language). (more…)
Artikel asal oleh Wahid Ooi Abdullah untuk laman Bikesrepublic.com
Just uttering the words “motorcycle lane” is enough to set off fierce debates. We decided to share one of our videos when we rode along the Federal Highway’s motorcycle lane from PPUM to the Jalan Cheras intersection.
This writer usually takes the New Pantai Expressway from Section 13, Petaling Jaya to his home in Bukit Jalil. Although farther, there are a number of curves to play with on the expressway.
The section was closed for some time for remedial works but it has since reopened.
The entry to the bike lane was easy to find. From there, it’s straight towards Kuala Lumpur. The surface is now much smoother now relative to how it was. You can still feel the bumps, but it really isn’t like riding over a ribbon of tarred washboard as it used to be.
However, the lane is still narrow and “divided” in two by broken lines, meaning that one can overtake here. The curves remain. And so do the danger points.
The exit is directly beneath an overhead section of the NPE. As such, the expressway’s span throws an inky black shadow onto the section. Worse, the exit follows immediately after a right turn while the road to KL curves back to the left, like an S-corner. There’s a huge risk of bikes crashing together here.
As the rider’s eyes readjust to the brightness, the bike’s suspension suddenly unloads. That’ll surprise some riders or even cause them to lose control. There’s no space for mistake here because there are steel railings on both sides of the path.
This exit has existed for many decades. It’s super dangerous because the section inexplicably narrows and is at the bottom of a rise.
However, the authorities have closed this exit, but someone removed the concrete barricades. Since I’ve not ridden here for a very long time, I turned in only to find there’s no exit to Jalan Cheras. Now I understand why it’s closed because the exit is exactly where vehicles pick up speed from coming down the downhill corner.
A few blocks were moved to create holes. Smaller bikes can fit through. But I didn’t want to exit here because it’s just foolish and illegal.
I made a U-turn and rode towards KL where there’s another exit to Jalan Kelang Lama, Cheras and Seremban. Emerging from the tunnels, the left lane of the road was closed, forcing us to share the incoming lane with other vehicles.
There was no exit to Jalan Cheras except by riding through parts of Taman Desa. That was when I came across a car driver who ran the red light in front of me.
I started to regret my decision by now. But there was still one last nuisance waiting. There was no way to head towards Cheras after getting off the bridge from Taman Desa. Instead, I had to join the KL-Seremban Highway in order to enter MEX Highway. That’s not an issue for me as I live in Bukit Jalil, but what about those who are residing in Cheras, Kajang, Semenyih and beyond?
We were really hopeful when the authorities announced the project to revamp Federal Highway’s motorcycle lane, but it causes more inconvenience to motorcyclists, never mind that many sections are still inexplicably closed. Let’s be clear here: We do not vouch for motorcyclists who flout the law, but what if they’re faced with inconveniences and dangers such as these?
We hope that they authorities will give more thought when rebuilding it as they were designed in the 50s for bicycles. The only way to assess is by riding a motorcycle themselves.
The Jalan 222 – Jalan Templar – Federal Highway may be the most congested during the rush hours, but it is for a good thing in the future, reports The Star.
As part of the 8.1km-long motorcycle lane and drainage upgrade project which costs RM28 million, a motorcycles-only bridge which spans the intersection will be ready for use by early October. The project starts from Kelab Gold Negeri Selangor along the Federal Highway near Subang Parade and ends at the Kota Darul Ehsan arch, which marks the Selangor-Kuala Lumpur border.
The project had been slated to be completed in June this year, but heavy rain which began in May and change of design delayed it for over a month, explained a Public Works Department (JKR) spokesman. Other factors that caused the delays were theft of equipment, the general elections and long stretches of public holidays.
The project seeks to repair or upgrade damaged road surface and alleviate flooding problems in sections of the bike lanes which spans a total of 16km in both directions.
A check by Bikes Republic revealed that a section of the bike lane after Jalan Barat heading towards Kuala Lumpur had been given a new asphalt cover, although it had not been widened as most expected. However, the section remains closed for some reason.
In the time being, motorcyclists are forced to share the Federal Highway’s main throughway with other heavy vehicles, putting their lives and those of others in danger. (Please click on the link below to read our earlier report.)
Motorcycles Allowed on Federal Highway Due to Bike Lane Works
As such, we recommend that motorcyclists remain in the left lane as much as possible should you choose to use the Federal Highway. Since the old highway’s lanes are narrower, heavier vehicles drive closer to one another, and this represents dangerous challenges to motorcyclists, especially if you are caught in the faster lanes when the traffic suddenly becomes less congested and speeds of other vehicles pick up.
We hope the Public Works Department and their contractors pick up the pace and complete the project as soon as possible in the interest of safety of all road users.
We recently highlighted a press article by the Malay Mail, questioning about motorcycles on the Federal Highway and the lack of apparent enforcement.
Motorcycles on the Federal Highway – “What choice do we have?”
That Malay Mail “report” had induced a firestorm of finger pointing especially by drivers against motorcyclists. Truth is, as we already knew, parts of the motorcycle lane were closed for construction.
And that’s exactly what the Works Minister, Ybhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof clarified.
According to the Minister, the Public Works Department (PWD or more well known as JKR) has been carrying out upgrading works on an 8.1-km stretch on both sides of the Federal Highway from Kota Darul Ehsan to Kelab Gold Subang. The upgrade is slated to be completed by April 2018.
As such, motorcyclists are allowed to use the main carriageway i.e. Federal Highway itself.
However, he added that Section 79(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 stated that any motorist or even pedestrian who did not comply to traffic directions and signs is liable to a fine of not less than RM300 and not more RM2,000.
This statute has been set aside for the moment due the upgrading works and the traffic police and other relevant enforcement agencies have been informed of such work. It’s good to know that the authorities are being fair in this matter. But, please do not assume that we are allowed to ride the entire length of the highway outside of the motorcycle lane. We know the motorcycle lane is dangerous but the law’s the law.
He didn’t elaborate on instances where motorcyclists were forced to abandon the motorcycle lane due to flooding, however.
While we laud The Malay Mail’s effort in bringing such issues to light, we are still wondering if The Malay Mail had actually requested clarification with the relevant authorities first before publishing that particular “report.” It would’ve have been more constructive instead of being damning towards the plight of motorcyclists.
In reference to a recent article published by the Malay Mail earlier today, the author clearly stated that more motorcyclists are taking their bikes onto the main carriageway and went on to blatantly label them as ‘nuisances’ and even ‘mat rempits’ (street hooligans). The biased article, which may be confusing for some especially other motorists, was written without considering the true story behind the event. (more…)
© Copyright – BikesRepublic.com 2023 Trademarks belong to their respective owners. All rights reserved
