By Kaipee Luther Newray
The relaxation of the ban on commercial motorcyclists using some main streets around Monrovia has come in for serious criticisms, although some are in favour of the latest move by the CDC-led government.
In just a brief period during the recent elections when the Liberia National Police (LNP) relaxed the ban on motorcyclists plying no-go zones, eight persons died in motorbike accidents. Several others were also injured.
That prompted LNP authorities at the time to reinstate the ban on commercial motorcyclists locally referred to as “Pehm-pehm riders”.to feeder roads and neighbourhoods.
But in a move to play up to President George Weah government’s “Pro-poor”agenda last weekend, the new Police Inspector General, Patrick Sudue announced that the government was relaxing the ban.
Surrounded by a large number of commercial motorcyclists, the new police chief gave them the greenlight to ply some main streets, promising a possible relaxation of the ban in the future.
Death trap
Given past history, the latest move is seen as very risky, as commercial motorcyclists plying the main streets have not made our roads any safer, with countless number of crashes resulting into deaths and injuries.
Most of them neither know nor respect traffic rules, whilst carrying several persons at the time without wearing safety helmets.
It was because of the high incidents of fatal motorcycle accidents that their movements were restricted shortly after the late December 2017 presidential runoff election.
In addition to the rise in motorbike accidents, the police said at the time that some commercial motorcycles were conniving with criminals to carryout snatching of phones, bags and robbery activities.
Police said most of the victims from motorcycle crashes included children, women and the elderly.
Concerns about the negative implication of the relaxation of the ban have also been raised in the Liberian Senate, with plenary on Tuesday summoning Police IG Sudue to appear before that body this Thursday.
The new Board Chairman of the Federation of Motorcycle and Tricycle Union of Liberia (FOMTUL) has threatened to punish any motorcyclists or Tri-cyclists found violating the Union’s code of conduct.
Rev. Luther Tarpeh said the commercial motorcycle group had and an image problem that is negatively affecting the credibility of the Union.
Speaking on Tuesday when eight motorcyclists and Tricycle Unions in Liberia endorsed him as board chair of FOMTUL, the Liberian cleric admitted that there is no doubt that some of them do have image and character problems.
But he assured Liberians that the FOMTUL leadership will work with him tirelessly in redeeming the image of motorcyclists across the country.
‘’Liberians will sometimes look at motorcyclists they used to called suicide bombers now as champions of change for the country,’’ he noted.
The cleric then prophesized that in a few months’ time, the “motorcyclists will grow from bad to excellent people of the country and become admirable giants that will become the light of Africa.
Rev Luther Tarpeh has meanwhile warned “commercial motorcyclists and Tricyclists to desist from act of drinking alcoholic beverages and ridding recklessly.
At the same time, Liberia’s Peace Ambassador Rev. Williams Richard Tolbert, III on Tuesday admonished the motorcyclists to to protect and maintain the peace and stability of Liberia.
He told them to dress neatly and abide by the traffic rules.
The Peace Ambassador encouraged the commercial motorbike riders to be people of integrity, goodwill and listen to the president of the Union for directions.
Rev. Tolbert said the role of the motorcycle and tricycle sector in Liberia is very important in upholding peace and unity in the country.