GUEST WRITER
AMINA KHAN
My heart goes out to those people who ride on bikes. In summer, the sweltering heat gets to them and in winter, the icy wind nips at their extremities. In addition, they suffer the social stigma of belonging to a certain class of ‘Corolla and Honda’ drivers, having , look down their noses at them. Of course, it doesn't help their image when the current trend is for thieves and criminals to choose this mode of transport to hold people up or to make a quick getaway.
Heavy vehicles like wagons or buses barely even notice them, which accounts for the increased number of accidents these poor bikers have.
Yet a high percentage of the population prefers the two-wheeled mode of transport, the most obvious reason being its cost effectiveness. If Rs 200 of fuel can get them from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, fair enough. Isn't it? Another reason is that motorcycles are a fast way to get to work and avoid traffic jams for people who cannot afford to be late for work. More often than not, they need to be in the office, prepared with the day's memo in one hand and a cup of coffee for the boss in the other!
I am not one of those people who believe that the roads are only meant for the privileged class, and bikes should be condemned to footpaths. But I do want to voice my concerns about the recklessness of these bike riders who seem to drive as if they are wearing a blindfold. They cannot distinguish between their left side and their right one, and seem to have some mental disability which does not allow them to ride their bikes in a straight line. Chaos reigns supreme when these motorcyclists cut across cars, nick side view mirror or bumpers indiscriminately, turn without flashing their indicator and generally, prefer to ride in the middle of the road. Sometimes, it is simply some 19 year old daredevil who chooses the main highway to show off and perform tricks on his two-wheeler out of sheer boredom! Little does he realise that such antics belong in the circus. Remember the ‘well of death’ where the motorcyclist performs feats that defy gravity and make Isaac Newton turn in his grave. More commonly though, we see whole families on bikes, the kids squashed between the adults, with glee on faces as they set about to view the city lights. Other scenarios are to see some child on the bike, a satchel on his back, getting picked from or being dropped to school, impervious to the rash driving of his father, and as deft as a Grand Prix racer at balancing himself as his father takes sharp turns.
People from so many different walks of life are seen on motorbikes. The respected Maulvi saab earning 'sawaab' for the hereafter by teaching kids the 'sipara', the accounts teacher off to give tuitions, the friendly neighbourhood pizza delivery guy who has to make a delivery in 20 minutes or forfeit his pay. The diversity is endless, but they all have one thing in common: failure to follow the traffic rules. The idea here is not to condemn anyone, but to make them realise that when they are on the roads, they have a public responsibility and it affects the safety of others, as well as their own.
The first and foremost thing to remember is to flash the indicator, not at the turn, which causes the car driver behind him to ram on his brakes and swiftly curse him, but to apply the brakes at least 5 to 7 minutes (roughly translates to 200 yards) before he turns, so the person behind him becomes aware of his intention to turn. Hand signals are also more easily seen so raise the right hand horizontally for turning right and the left one for turning left. Motorbikes should switch lanes after making sure the road is clear. Otherwise, they should keep on the left hand side of the road for their own safety. Proper U-turns should be taken; they should not cut across roads between concrete dividers and grills.
They should stop at a yellow light, not trust their luck and make a dash for it. Helmets prevent head injuries so must be worn when riding a motorbike. In heavy rainfall or fog, they need to make sure they are visible to car and bus drivers. Their lights must be in working condition and they should stay close to the curb. At night, it is preferable to wear a glow-in-the-dark arm patch or striped jacket for visibility to others. Be aware of those around you and watch out for careless drivers who are on their cell phones. Driving without a licence is illegal. Visit the nearest Traffic Police office to get more information about road safety.
Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry! Avoid the trauma of a road accident and ride responsibly!