Second-class treatment for motorcyclists on highways

Motorcyclists seeking assistance from highway emergency operators during breakdown or accidents on a highway have been continuously ignored.

Motorcyclists have to brace for worst, especially if the breakdown happens at night. They have to push their bikes in the dark along the highway, even though they are not visible to the vehicles travelling from the back, said Selangor Community Policing Chief Coordinator, Kuan Chee Heng.

He recounted an incident last month where a motorcyclist had strenuously pushed his spoiled bike amidst the busy traffic of Puchong-Damansara Highway (LDP) with his pregnant wife and small child in tow.

When Kuan called LDP hotline for assistance; he was told that LDP does not provide assistance to motorcyclists.

“Maybe because motorcyclists are non-toll payers, hence they are neglected?” asked Huan (right, white shirt, front row).

He urged LDP and other highway operators to consider setting up mobile rescue team to assist motorcyclists who are mostly from lower income bracket.

“If they think this will incur extra costs, they can easily tie up or sublet the contract to other motorbike companies,” he said.

“I guess for the cyclists, they don’t mind paying a reasonable amount for a rescue service,” he added.

Kuan will also write in to Public Works Minister Shaziman Mansor to highlight the issue.

Komunitikini learnt that close to 100,000 motorcyclists are commuting on the LDP every day. Many of them only purchase a minimal insurance premium of RM60 which does not cover vehicle breakdown support.

The situation is made worse by the fact that there are no motorcycle workshops along most parts of the highway.

Kuan also said that the highway operators will never help to move the broken-down motorcycle to a safer place. Instead, it will just be left to rot on the road side for months.

Litrak Communications department head, Shah Rizal Mohd Fawzi, when contacted, denied that the motorcyclists have been sidelined.

He said Litrak possesses motorcycle patrol team to escort faulty motorcycles to nearest workshop.

“However, based on the past experience, many bikers called in to request for onsite repairing, a service that we can’t do.

“That is the reason why we turn them down,” he said.

He added that LDP’s urban location makes it convenient for owners of faulty vehicles to find a workshop.

He said Litrak will look into Kuan’s idea of setting up a special motorcycle rescue team.

“But it’s all depends on needs, because we are an urban highway,” he added.