Many ride-hailing apps have even started bike services or rentals which provide the passengers a chance to ride their own bike. However, the largest city of Myanmar, Yangon (formerly called Rangoon) doesn’t have even a single motorcycle on roads. Reason? Two-wheelers are banned in this city!
There are many motorcycle enthusiasts in the city but their freedom is restricted. In South Asian countries and many coastal areas, scooty and bikes are the most popular vehicles. Rising incomes have made them attainable for millennials.
According to a research conducted by Pew Research Centre in 2015 of about 44 countries, the top motorcycle riders were in South Asian countries. Thailand had 87% motorcycle riders followed by 86% in Vietnam, 85% in Indonesia, 83% in Malaysia, 60% in China and 47% in India.
However, in Yangon fuel-powered motorcycles are banned in the city since 2003. The most astonishing fact is that nobody knows the exact reason behind this ban.
Possible Theories Behind The Ban
There are many rumours surrounding the imposition of ban. Here some of the most common ones that are discussed widely amongst the locals-
Before the military rule ended in 2016, it is believed that a biker threatened a general with a finger-gun gesture and was thus able to escape the law. There is a second version to this story as well. Reportedly, a gang of young bikers drew alongside a military general and made an aggressive gesture.
Some even say that motorbikes have been banned owing to road safety. Others say that since traffic rules weren’t obeyed by bikers, that’s why the ban was imposed.
Another rumour has it that the general’s daughter had died in a motorcycle accident. Speaking to one of the local newspapers in Myanmar, an officer from the Yangon traffic police department said that motorcyclists were involved in a lot of criminal activities and accidents prior to the ban was introduced therefore, there are no plans of lifting it anytime soon.
Rusted bikes are lying in garages of Myanmar residents. Over the years, due to absence of motorbikes, Yangon residents have started purchasing cars as their income grew. This led to more traffic congestion. Hence, a reverse on this ban has become all the more difficult.
The ban applies to only central Yangon and motorcycles are commonly used in outer townships of the city. Dr Maung Aung, the secretary of the Yangon Region Transportation Authority (YRTA) told Channel News Asia, “Due to the road and traffic management infrastructure in Yangon, we shouldn’t allow it yet. I mean for the moment, because the number of vehicles is rapidly increasing and traffic jams are everywhere.”