Motorbike sale surges by 10pc: Dealers

Arafat Ara The number of motorbikes plying the city roads has gone up significantly in recent years due to unbearable gridlock and insufficient public transports, causing a serious concern among the road safety experts. Vehicle experts fear that the growing trend in motorcycle use could further make the country's poor road communication system risky by increasing the accident rate as untrained youths have accounted for a key portion. According to the official data of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the nation has a total of 916,075 registered motorbikes, which is 60 per cent of the country's total 1.5 million registered motorised vehicles. Half of the total number of motorcyclists have no driving licences in the country, according to the data. The BRTA chart showed the upward trend of motorbike use from 2004 to 2011. Beyond official figures, there are a large number of such unregistered vehicles across the country, said the experts. People use the motorbikes because those are hassle- free and low-cost but the country is gradually moving toward a riskier situation as the growth of the transport is considered like a Tsunami," said Shamsul Haque, the former director of Accident Research Institute at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He said though the traffic jam is a big reason for the rise in the number of motorbikes, now-a-days the use of bikes has become a fashion to the young generation, especially to trendy youths who consider it as a key element to be smarter. "The trend is very alarming and the government should immediately control the purchasing race as it will make people, specially the youths, more aggressive," the vehicle expert said. Mr Haque further mentioned that due to the growing number of motorcycles, the drivers are often seen using footpaths when they cannot pass through the roads thus causing much inconveniences to the pedestrians. If the situation goes on like this, the passersby will be compelled to use main roads instead of footpaths increasing the number of accidents, the BUET teacher added. He said despite strong supervision and monitoring, the road safety net is at stake presently in the countries like Thailand, China, Malaysia and India because of growing number of motorbikes in those countries. During festivals, traffic system remains out of control as tens of thousands of young people take the motorbike ride as a part of entertainment in those countries, he noted. "Till now the situation is not like that in our country but the authorities should take measures immediately to check the situation in near future," he added. Owner of Golden Liberty Ltd, the leading dealer of Yamaha, Hero and TVS motorcycles in the country said the sale of the vehicles is increasing more than 10 per cent each year. Nearly 50 to 60 motorbikes of one brand are being sold every month. A salesman of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd motorcycle showroom in the city also said the sale had increased significantly in last two years as people use the mini transport considering its lower price. The price of an 80 to 140 CC (Cubic Centimeter) Walton brand motor bike, varies from Tk 60,000 to Tk 125,000, he said. Mr Shamsul Haque said for ensuring the road safety government should reduce the number of motorbikes by imposing high tariff on motorcycles' import for discouraging the buyers. He also suggested that it is necessary to introduce modern articulated bus service and reduce the traffic jam to inspire the people for using public transports. Nirapad Sarak Chai Chairman Ilyas Kanchan said due to severe traffic jam as well as worsening communication system across the country, the people are bound to use motorbikes. So it is hard to reduce the number of the vehicle. "But the authorities through issuing driving licence to every motorcycle holder and close supervision can check road accidents, said the road safety activist. He also mentioned that the authority should fix maximum 80 CC (Cubic Centimeter) motorcycles for civilians. But the government had allowed up to 150 CC motorbikes in 2006 which is making the road communication very riskier. A high official of BRTA said till now the number of motorcycles in the country is much lower than that of the countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. So there is no initiative to reduce the number of motorbikes presently, he added.