Bikes to be banned after 5pm!
Legislation to ban bikes and three-wheel vehicles from operating between 5 pm to 5 am daily is to be drafted in the British Virgin Islands.
Premier Andrew Fahie announced in a statement on Wednesday that Cabinet has already approved the regulation in accordance with Section 56 of the territory’s Road Traffic Act, (CAP. 218).
He said the move is “for the safety and convenience of the public, for a period that will not exceed three weeks”.
While noting that government wants to also ensure the safety of bikers, Fahie added: “The Minister for Transportation, Works & Utilities [Kye Rymer], will instruct the Attorney General [Baba Aziz] to draft the required regulation.”
Noise poses a health risk
Fahie’s announcement comes amid continued complaints about noisy bikers in and around local communities.
A few months ago, former BVI First Lady Lorna Smith described the noise as an ‘unbearable’ nuisance brought on by unemployed drag racers during night-time hours.
In a subsequent Facebook post on May 11, her husband, former Premier Dr D Orlando Smith, advised that the practice of riders altering mufflers on their motorbikes can result in permanent hearing loss.
He said these bikes are a disturbance to the community and creates noise “far above the recommended 80 decibels”.
The Center for Disease Control has said noise above 70 decibels over a prolonged period may start to damage a person’s hearing.
ALSO READ: Cabinet approves larger bikes for BVI
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I’m happy to hear that.
Why only 3 weeks. The spoiled, useless, uneducated, drug dealing offspring of the high and mighty might get p**sed off? Make this permanent.
NEED TO BANNED BAR NOISE TOO
THERE’S MUSIC CAN BE HEARD ALL THROUGH THE HILLS COMING FROM HUNTUM’S GHUT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
BAN IT!!
THERE’S LOUD MUSIC COMING FROM HUNTUM’S GHUT THAT COULD BE HEARD ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT THROUGH THE HILLS.
BAN IT!!
What kind of half baked nonsense is this? Is the noise pollution the only thing that concerns this government relative to bike riders?
What about all of these young people being seriously injured and killed? What is the governments response/solutions to this?
It is highly unlikely banning bikes and three-wheel vehicles from operating between 5 pm to 5 am daily will save lives among a group of people known for too often breaking the law.
Do this government really expect these folks to park up their bikes at 5 pm and not touch them until 5 the next morning? That’s laughable, and it’s not going to happen.
What can be expected is that these folks will continue to use their bikes past those hours, and place the RVIPF in a position of possibly having to be chasing after these bike rides during those 12 hours when they could be using their time to do other meaningful things.
The government appears to not want to offend bike rides (maybe for votes), and have come up with this half baked idea rather than meaningful legislation.
The government should stop trying to be nice, grow a pair, and as the saying goes: roll and come again.
Unbelievable.
Don’t really care if the scooter riders are hurt or killed. As long as they don’t become a taxpayer burden. Ever hear of Darwinism. Look it up. The population needs to be culled of the useless. Just do it during the day when they aren’t annoying people in the evening.
Some bike riders are a nuisance to the community. They ride recklessly, disobey the rule of roads, pose a hazard to other motorists, pedestrians and themselves, stress the medical system, burdens their families, disrupts the quiet and enjoyment of the community……….etc. Moreover, some bike owners operate them reliably and responsibly only for transportation purposes. These riders should not be punished.
The 3-week moratorium limiting bike operation between 5 pm and 5 am is nonsense. Government needs to take strong action to change the behaviour of these non-confirming, selfish , immature…….etc riders. These strong actions should include new practical and reasonable regulation, confiscation (for repeat offenders), fines, suspension of licenses…….etc. Further, RVIFP must be judicious in the use of high speed chases. If they are not pursuing an alleged murderer, rapist….etc, it should use other measures to apprehend the alleged violators of the law. It should not put the community in further risk with unnecessary high speed chases.
No need for curfew just enforce rules. No helmet, no tax/ insurance, no mufflers = no NHI, simple.
Is this our leader? We need to think about the outcome our our decisions and fahie just casting his opinions with having factual data to back them, ruining the country and folks criminal record with this.
Thank you
Thank you
THANK YOU!
Just listened to some wanker race up and down through West End on a very, very, loud motorbike for ten minutes – after 5pm.
No weeping if these were banned entirely. None. They earned what they got and more
Where is the race track
Race track you say. Campaigning on a race track was just a wat to get votes
In as much as I would love to see bikes banned for good, I think this government is really going in the wrong directions in trampling on people’s freedoms and rights. What is next?
If we see a bike or trike on the road after 5pm, can we run it off the road?
Ha ha ha!
Some may use bikes as a primary or sole mode of transportation.
How do they traverse society; traverse to and from work?
I think we must apply reason, before permanent laws are put in place!
I’m 63 years old and I use my motorcycle for transportation to and from work. My bike is licensed, insured and has a DMV sticker. The bike has a proper silencer/ muffler, I obey the rules of the road and I wear a full face helmet. I don’t race on the public road or cause any excessive noise. Now I must leave work early or break the law riding home. I’m being punished because other people break the law and there is no police enforcement. Mr. Fahie, this is unjust.
Thanks for the move, but lessening the hours of riding does not address the issue of noise.
Everyone in the BVI suffers from loud noise coming from bikes, cars, businesses and homes. Those who choose to have loud noise need to understand that others do not want to hear you! No one should be deprived of peace and quiet.
At least Gumption is happy ?