Bikesrepublic

motorcycle lane

The Ministry of Transportation is proposing separate motorcycle lanes to be built on every new state and the federal road to curb road fatalities involving motorcyclists in Malaysia. 

  • In 2020, the police recorded 418,237 road accidents, including 4,634 deaths.
  • In 2021, Malaysian motorcyclists accounted for seven out of ten road fatalities. 

The proposed plan was said by the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak in a recent interview with NST. 

According to the report, the ministry is currently in talks with the Local Government Development Ministry and local councils before submitting the plan to the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) next year (2023).

The proposal is in line with the country’s Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, introduced in January this year with the aim to reduce the number of road fatalities by 50 per cent. 

Also, under the plan, the ministry will make the anti-lock braking system (ABS) mandatory for every 150cc and above motorcycle, beginning 1st January 2025. 

(source: NST)

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has stated that Malaysia needs more motorcycle lanes as one of the ways to reduce the number of road accidents involving our fellow riders and pillions.

This is a problem that the country needs to deal with urgently as statistics in 2018 showcased an average of 18 deaths on Malaysian roads every day where the majority involved motorcyclists. (more…)

  • Another motorcyclist had his finger cut by a wire strung across a motorcycle lane.

  • The location is at the entrance from Taman Greenwood to the DUKE highway.

  • A same occurrence happened at the same location last year.

In September 2018, a motorcyclist was almost beheaded by a wire strung across the motorcycle lane. Since then, another motorcyclist almost met the same fate at the same location.

Harian Metro reported two days ago that 28-year-old Mohamad Syazwan Mohd. Jelani, was riding from Sri Gombak to Kuala Lumpur when he encountered the booby trap. The location of the trap was at motorcycle lane entering the DUKE Highway from Taman Greenwood.

Syazman recounted that he felt something on his face which then travelled downwards to his neck. He almost lost control of his motorcycle at the time, but managed to grab his neck out of reflex. His fingers found a piece of wire. He managed to push it above his head and helmet, but the offending material cut into his fingers, almost taking it off.

“The motorcyclists behind stopped to help and one of them told me it could be a kite string,” said Syazman. “But there weren’t any kites flying and it didn’t snap when I pulled on it. Instead, it cut into my fingers.”

He has since reported the case to the police.

In the same incident last year, Mohamad Afiq Izwan Ismail suffered a cut on his neck when it came into contact with fishing wire strung across the bike lane.

We urge the authorities to act before something serious happens.

Source: Harian Metro

  • The Royal Malaysian Police will carry out more operations to nab motorcyclists who have “discipline problems,” including not utilizing the motorcycle lane.

  • Other offences include riding without a valid license and road tax.

  • They nabbed a motorcyclist who had 23 outstanding summonses and 9 arrest warrants two days ago.

The Royal Malaysian Police will carry out more operations to nab motorcyclists who have “discipline problems,” including not utilizing the motorcycle lane.

The police added that this wasn’t the only problem as they have stopped many motorcyclists who ride without (or expired) license and motorcycle road tax. They even arrested a rider who has 23 outstanding summonses and 9 arrest warrants to his name, besides not owning a riding license.

Additionally, the police issued 162 summoses within a two-hour period in just one traffic operation two days ago.

Indeed, this writer personally witnessed the recalcitrance of motorcyclists who chose to ride on the main highway instead of the motorcycle lane during a recent Hari Raya safety campaign at the Bukit Jelutong Toll Plaza. A number of riders chose to u-turn against oncoming traffic while others squeezed past cars, busses and trucks at the booths.

While we understand that the condition of motorcycle lanes isn’t exactly conducive to riding, we are required to use it by law. However, we implore the authorities to pay attention to provide a safer environment to motorcyclists, instead of going after silly policies that serve no purpose other than riling public anger.

Source: Sinar Harian

Artikel asal oleh Wahid Ooi Abdullah untuk laman Bikesrepublic.com

  • Sebahagian daripada laluan motosikal yang ada di Lebuhraya Persekutuan kini telah dibuka.
  • Kami mengambil peluang ini untuk memeriksa laluan dari PPUM ke Midvalley.
  • Ternyata ianya masih lagi merbahaya dan bagai melepaskan batuk di tangga.

(more…)

  • Sections of the motorcycle lane along Federal Highway are open.

  • We decided to take a peek at the section from PPUM to Midvalley.

  • The motorcycle lane is still dangerous and poorly thought out.

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.

1. KL – Pantai Baharu exit

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.

2. Tunnel exit next to Plaza Pantai

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.

3. KL – Cheras exit

 

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.

3. Taman Desa

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?

CONCLUSION

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.

  • Encik Afiq Izwan telah memuat naik status ke akaun Facebooknya bahawa dia telah menjadi mangsa sebuah jerangkap samar di laluan motosikal.
  • Seutas tali pancing telah dipasang merentasi laluan motosikal, mencederakan lehernya dan merosakkan helmetnya.
  • Lokasi kejadian ini adalah berhampiran dengan susur keluar Lebuhraya DUKE ke Taman Rowther dan Taman Koperasi Polis 1, Gombak.

(more…)

  • Mohamad Afiq posted on his Facebook account that he contacted a booby trap on a motorcycle lane.

  • A fishing line was strung across the motorcycle lane, cutting his neck and damaging his helmet.

  • The location is the near the exit from DUKE highway to Taman Rowther and Taman Koperasi Polis 1, Gombak.

Just as we were writing a retort against a case of The Star publishing a “report” complaining about motorcycles invading the main throughway on the Federal Highway, a motorcyclist’s posting on his Facebook page has gone viral when he reported that he was almost beheaded by a booby trap strung across a motorcycle lane.

Mohamad Afiq Izwan Ismail, a university student, posted that the incident occurred around 6.30pm on Monday (17th September). His neck and helmet apparently came into contact with a fishing line which was hung across the exit from DUKE highway to Taman Rowther and Taman Koperasi Polis 1 in Gombak.

“This is not a myth, as it happened to me,” he said in his post. “There’s some heartless human being who placed this trap near the corner. This is a fishing line which is rough. It’s painful!”

He echoed the concerns of many motorcyclists in the Klang Valley, as another rider was also snared by such a trap at the Federal Highway’s motorcycle lane last year. There have also been reported cases of armed robbery at night.

Mohamad Afiq posted a picture of his neck. He also claimed that his helmet (the chin strap, judging by the picture) was damaged.

“Imagine if someone sped through the lane without wearing a helmet. Wouldn’t the neck be cut?” he continued.

“A reminder to all those living in Gombak to be careful while travelling through this area especially at night.”

He had lodged a police report regarding the matter.

  • The Federal Highway motorcycle lane upgrading project will include a motorcycle-only bridge.

  • It spans the busy Jalan 222 – Jalan Templar – Federal Highway intersection.

  • The project had been delayed and is slated to be ready by early-October 2018.

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 bridge’s underpass – Courtesy of thestar.com.my

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.

A section of the bike lane near Jalan 222 is still closed – Courtesy of thestar.com.my

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.

Sumber imej: ahpekbiker.blogspot.my
  • Menteri Kerja Raya telah mengesahkan yang motosikal telah dibenarkan berada di atas Lebuhraya Persekutuan atas sebab kerja-kerja penaiktarafan laluan motosikal.
  • Penjelasan beliau itu adalah bagi menjawab sebuah artikel akhbar mengenai motosikal mencerobohi lebuhraya.
  • Kerja-kerja tersebut dijangkakan siap dalam bulan April 2018.

(more…)

  • The Works Minister has confirmed that motorcycles are allowed on the Federal Highway due to bike lane upgrade.

  • His clarification was in response to a press article about bikes “invading” the highway.

  • The works are slated to be completed in April 2018.

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.

From www.tv14.my

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.

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