Why some motorcyclists don’t stick to their lanes
Dedicated motorcycle lanes offer a safer journey when riding on highways, but some bikers still choose not to use them.
Studies by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) suggest that motorcycle lane utilisation rates are still low despite their effectiveness and efforts to promote their usage.
StarMetro spoke to motorcyclists who blamed poor road maintenance, criminal activities and narrow lanes for pushing them away from using the motorcycle lanes.
As a result, some avoid motorcycle lanes and ride instead on the main roads and major highways, knowing fully that it poses a higher risk to themselves.
Are their concerns justified?
To find out, we rode along the motorcycle lane at the Federal Highway – one of the busiest dedicated motorcycle lanes in the Klang Valley – and recorded the commute on video.
Here’s what we found:.
User’s experience
What we saw
Untrimmed growth, patchy surface and stagnant water are some observations made by StarMetro during checks at motorcycle lanes at several major highways.
At the Federal Highway, the lane was mostly in good condition, save for a few spots of stagnant water near UOA Business Park in Shah Alam.
There were also signages found there to indicate flood-prone spots, namely tunnel 3 (KM15.0, Klang bound) and tunnel 17 (Kuala Lumpur bound).
At the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), overgrowth could be seen jutting out from the roadside at some parts of the motorcycle lanes.
These areas were found along the underpasses from Bukit Jelutong heading towards Rawang.
Also spotted along the lanes were discarded household items, as well as damaged motorcycle parts.
Several spots at the lane were being repaired by the concessionaires.
Overgrowth and mosses were also spotted at the motorcycle lane of Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), especially near the Kinrara rest area heading towards Kuala Lumpur.
The lane was also quite narrow along the stretch near Jalan Puchong, making it difficult for motorcyclists to maneuver around.
PDRM Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
Mandatory lanes
According to the police, the use of motorcycle lanes is compulsory.
“Motorcyclists must use the motorcycle lanes if there is one,” Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, who is Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director, told StarMetro.
“However, we prefer to give reminders to motorcyclists as opposed to issuing them summons.”
This approach, he said, was to account for motorists who might be unfamiliar with the highway or unaware of the
motorcycle lane there.
“They may come from other areas, such as outside of Klang Valley, and may be using the highway for the first time.
“However, motorcyclists are reminded to be alert and heed the signboards placed along the road,” he said.
The authority had, nevertheless, taken action against errant individuals for not using the motorcycle lanes. For example, an operation held at the Federal Highway in January 2022 saw 220 summonses issued by the police, according to media reports.
Another operation in August that year at the GCE resulted in 110 summonses given to errant motorcyclists. The laws that prohibit or control motorcyclists from using car lanes on the highway fall under Section 79(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) – disregarding traffic signs.
It said that any pedestrian or driver who fails or neglects to comply with any lawfully placed traffic signs is guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, may be fined not less than
RM300 and not more than RM2,000.
According to police statistics between 2019 to 2023, a total of
829 road accidents happened on three major highways with motorcycle lanes.
Mohd Yusri said they are only allowed to use regular lanes if there are no motorcycle lanes provided.
He also highlighted that the police regularly patrolled these lanes to ensure they were safe to use. And though there had been reports of crimes such as robbery at motorcycle lanes, he said these incidents were isolated.
Data from 2019 to 2023 at the three major highways — Federal, Kesas and Guthrie — found no more than two cases reported each year.
Relating further, Mohd Yusri said developers regularly sought input from the police prior to constructing highways.
“We always advise them to build motorcycle lanes, especially
for projects in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru
and Penang.
“This is crucial, as motorcyclists are at higher risks of accidents due to their smaller vehicles,” he said. Mohd Yusri also called on concessionaires to ensure motorists are informed about the existence of motorcycle lanes on the highways under their management.
“Place signage at toll booths and along the road shoulders so that road users are aware,” he added.
Asked to comment on claims of these lanes being poorly maintained, Mohd Yusri urged the public to file complaints with
the police or highway concessionaire.
“Take note of the location and snap photos of the faulty spot and the police will forward the complaint to the concessionaire.
“Road users may also contact the concessionaire via their hotlines,” he said.
Story by: JAROD LIM, LEW GUAN XI, MEGAT SYAHAR,
FARID WAHAB and SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI
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