MAKKAH, 29 October 2005 — Tired of traffic jams, thefts and deadly accidents, residents here are calling on authorities to regulate motorbike traffic in the holy city. Haj and Umrah operators along with government workers say they use motorbikes to get around pilgrim-crowded streets, but a lack of clear regulation, unregistered motorbikes, unlicensed drivers and a recent wave of purse-snatchings and mobile phone thefts, not to mention their use by drug dealers, have police taking a less charitable view.
“Motorbikes are very useful and have proven to be an efficient means of transportation,” said Mubarak Al-Otaibi, who works in pilgrim services. “There is no way to travel and keep to schedules by using my car in the central area of the city. Roads are jammed, and the only way to move is by using motorbikes.”
Al-Otaibi acknowledges that reckless drivers and teens often abuse the inexpensive transportation. “Motorbikes are now available for kids to use,” he said. “This should be stopped because they are the cause of many deadly accidents. This is due to the low prices at which these motorbikes are sold and because there are no rules and regulations on whom to sell motorbikes.”
For victims of crimes in which motorbikes have been used, it’s a problem they say demands immediate attention. “It’s obvious that the majority of people who use motorbikes are either African overstayers or the unemployed,” said Jameel Ali Al-Soofi, who was robbed by a motorbike operator and seriously injured in the street crime.
“They drive motorbikes recklessly in the central area and maneuver dangerously. They travel at high speed in crowded areas between cars and scare both drivers and bystanders. They commit crimes, and when chased by police they can easily escape by driving into neighborhoods with narrow streets where police cars can’t go.
He recounted an incident in which an African biker snatched his mobile phone while he was talking on the street. “Before I could even think of calling for help, he disappeared down a narrow street using an unmarked and probably stolen motorbike.”
Police are responding to such concerns by seizing unlicensed motorbikes. Drivers caught violating regulations face tough fines.
