Proposed moped ban on SRP
Lately there have been talks on banning motorcycles under 400cc from plying the South Road Properties. This certainly reminds me of the rules that covers the major expressways in Luzon (NLEX, SLEX, SCTEX) that disallows any two wheeled vehicle that has an engine capacity of less than 400cc from entering. The reason being that it is dangerous for small bikes to try and keep up with the minimum speed limit imposed on the highways aside from the strong crosswinds and the lack of visibility of small bikes.
As always, there are two sides to the coin. Here is my take on why we should and why we shouldn't ban small motorcycles from entering the SRP.
Why we shouldn't:
•First of all, is the recently imposed 40kph speed limit on the SRP. If 40kph is the maximum allowed speed on the SRP, then small bikes even those 100cc ones should have no problem keeping up with the traffic flow.
•Unlike the NLEX, SLEX and SCTEX where it is surrounded by open fields as far as the eye can see, the SRP is actually pretty close to the mountains that are right smack in the middle of Cebu. So crosswinds at the SRP are not strong enough to destabilize a moped. There are even avid bicycle riders that frequent the SRP on the early mornings. And you don't see them being blown around by the crosswind.
•Even if they impose a minimum speed of say 60-80kph, modern moped and scooter engines and suspensions allow them to reach 100+kph even without breaking a sweat.
•More importantly, the SRP is not a purpose built expressway. It is actually an extension of the city where you can find malls, condos, restaurants, events, etc. Unlike purpose built expressways, the public (2 wheeled or 4 wheeled) should be allowed access to it.
Why we should:
•This is the sad reality, but majority of motorcycle riders do not know the rules of the road. It is not that they are abusive and break them on purpose – they actually do not know that a lot of what they do go against the law. These are the ones spoiling the rules for those who actually follow it.
•Running 20-40kph in the passing lane and not moving over even if there is a bike or car behind. I know there are cars that do this also. But due to the sheer number of motorcycles you cannot help but encounter two or more doing this on a single trip through the SRP. If you are running at the speed limit (40kph) but not overtaking a car, take the middle lane… or the rightmost lane. Just don't stay in the passing lane.
•Visibility. At highway speeds (yes, even 40kph) mopeds are reduced to little specks that are hard to see, especially when most do not turn on their lights when running at night and assume all drivers have cat-like night vision and reflexes.
•"Singit" mentality. You might be able to get away with weaving in and out of traffic in city roads where the speed is generally slower and traffic is more dense. But this is particularly dangerous at the SRP where all the cars and bikes "assume" that you are going to be travelling at the same direction and at the same speed as the traffic around you. Not only will weaving in and out of traffic at the SRP increase the chances of you getting into an accident, it also increases the chances of you causing another driver to do so when he/she tries to avoid you.
In my opinion, the reason why the ban has been proposed is because of a few "pasaways" … well, I admit, there are more than a few... but banning something should not be a knee-jerk reaction to solving something. It is at best a band-aid solution. We should be more proactive and help guide and educate motorists on the proper etiquette on road courtesy. I don't mean a 1-2 hour lecture at LTO, which is like sitting through your least favorite subject back in school where you can't even remember your teacher's name. I mean something like promoting bike clubs, bike events and online bike groups where the public can join and be educated on what is good and bad. I said it before and I will say it again… "Change is coming, but change starts with you."
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