Biker clubs call for safety riding

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 03/05/2009 1:50 PM  

While some motorcycle clubs get tangled up in hostilities or group fights or even drugs, many other motorbike clubs have involved themselves in safety riding campaigns. 

Budhie Soenarso from the Pulsarian Detasemen club in Depok said they collaborated with radio stations to broadcast programs on safety riding. 

"We have collaborating programs on the police radio station Suara Metro 911 FM, and Cemerlang Radio in Depok," Budhie said. 

The club is also preparing public service programs with Bogor TV station Megaswara. 

Arief, chairman of Pulsarian's Depok branch, said they just received an invitation from the Bogor Police to collaborate in guiding bikers who drag race every Saturday night. 

"These bikers begin racing at about midnight near the police post. We believe that by making friends with them, they will see examples of our safety riding." 

Budhie said important matters were often neglected by motorcyclists, such as to not use cell phones while riding, to wear up-to-standard helmets or to wear one at all. 

Elsid Arendra, from Scorpio Owners Club Indonesia, said another example of not following safety riding was having beams that were too strong, thus endangering other motorists. 

"Riding on the sidewalk is also a no-no," Elsid said. 

He said the club got knowledge from institutions such as the Indonesian Defensive Driving Club (IDDC), a group that campaigns for safety riding. 

"The IDDC has trainers they send out to clubs to share knowledge on safe riding procedures." 

Some clubs share the cost to get the trainers to train them, and later club members spread the knowledge to other people such as high school students, he said. 

Both Elsid and Arief said that between the clubs, they will report if a member of any club has breached safety regulations. 

The number of motorcyclists in Jakarta has risen 300 percent in the last four years. The city's transportation agency recorded 3.5 million units of motorbikes in 2008. 

Comr. Djamin Boedi Oetomo, head of the Depok Police's traffic unit, said that as long as motorbike clubs followed the rules, then they did not pose any threat. 

"What disturbs other road users are the motorcades and the use of sirens on their vehicles." 

Djamin said there were clubs that obeyed the rules, but also clubs that did not care about regulations. 

He added that for the drag racers in the area, the head of the Sukmajaya district had actually reserved a plot of land where they could test their track skills in a safe location. 

Arief said all new members in 2009 had to pass the club's safety riding course first before being admitted to the group.(iwp)