Bike licensing risks missing safety point

Bike licensing risks missing safety point

Bangkok cyclists staged a
Bangkok cyclists staged a "die-in" last weekend to dramatise their demands for tougher laws and safer streets for two-wheelers. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

The idea of reintroducing compulsory licences to ride bicycles is being discussed by police, City Hall and the Department of Land Transport.

It is part of a package of measures to improve safety for cyclists following a spate of fatalities.

Other proposed measures include forcing cyclists to equip their bikes with necessary accessories such as lights and helmets and other protective gear. They are also considering banning young cyclists from public roads. It is proposed police will have the power to fine cyclists.

The proposed measures are made in response to a series of tragic crashes, resulting in the deaths and injuries of cyclists in the past months. 

With regard to cycling licences, these documents were in use before the requirement was revoked decades ago as bicycles fell out of favour as a mode of transportation. Recently, however, cycling has become more popular.

From the state's viewpoint, licensing has merit because it will help screen out "unfitted cyclists" from the roads as applicants will have to undertake some kind of tests.

Understandably, most cyclists are not happy with the licence idea. To be exact, they are not happy with all the measures which appear to discourage people from using this environmentally-friendly mode of transport: Either for commuting or for leisure.

In working out those measures, it seems the authorities forgot one point, a crucial one: All those tragic crashes that made headlines in the past months involved recklessness by motorists, not the cyclists. At least one case involved drink driving, another was a hit-and-run. 

I don't know those crash victims personally. But the fact that they belonged to cyclists' clubs would indicate they possessed some road skills. More importantly, investigations by police did not reveal law violations on the cyclists' part and I am certain they were fully equipped with protective gear. Yet they fell victim to motorists' recklessness and irresponsibility. 

It's the same recklessness that ended the lives of Juan Francisco Guillermo from Chile and Peter Root and Mary Thompson from England who came to Thailand in their quests to break world cycling records.

Anytime a crash happens, police seem to blame on the cyclists, warning them to "bike with utmost care" while showing sympathy for the four-wheel drivers who "didn't want bad things to happen", without mentioning that the bad things could have been avoided, if they cared to. Especially in the Chiang Mai crash case, police failed to point out that lives would have been saved if the motorist was not driving under the influence.

Let me share my story. A few months ago, I experienced being "doored" when bicycling on a Bangkok street. I was wearing a helmet (which did an excellent job of saving my life). In fact, I was fully equipped with all safety accessories including headlights and reflective strips that are designed to make road users see me from afar. But when a taxi passenger wanted to get out at an intersection (which is against the law) and abruptly opened the cab door, they did not look. and I was knocked helplessly onto the road. 

Despite me being careful on the road, there have been quite a few "near-hit" experiences.

All the measures for cyclists will be of little help as long as police still fail to regulate the roads. It's weak law enforcement that allows bad motorists and road users to get off the hook, along with poor road design and lack of infrastructure to accommodate bicycles.

Those reactions by police send the wrong signal. Licences and some proposed measures will be a burden to many cyclists, especially those in low-income groups such as security guards, maids and lottery vendors. It means more expense and time to apply for a document that will mean almost nothing if motorists still bully them.

There is one particular concern about this proposed licence. Will it put cyclists in the same situation as motorcyclists who are often subjected to harassment by police?

I know there are some cyclists who are arrogant and violate traffic laws. These people deserve condemnation. But there are only a few of those.

This morning, cyclists will turn up in force to spell out their needs to those in charge. They will cycle from Ratchaprasong to police headquarters to hand in a petition and an invitation for a joint meeting which aims to fine-tune safety measures.

I welcome any effort to improve safety but, please, don't miss the point.


Ploenpote Atthakor is Deputy Editorial Pages Editor, Bangkok Post

 

Ploenpote Atthakor

Former editorial page Editor

Ploenpote Atthakor is former editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.

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