Should large capacity motorbikes be allowed on Expressways?

On one hand we are promoting premium biking in country by allowing collaborations and encouraging localisation, and on the other hand we are denying the buyers of these premium bikes the best of the roads

BHPian aviator1101 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

During any long distance motorcycle trip, we look forward to hitting the highways/ expressways because that’s where you and your vehicle can break free from the city speed limits. Imagine you own, say a Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer, and intend to travel from Delhi to Kolkata. What would be your plan?

Surely you would plan to take the Yamuna Expressway till Agra and then again the Agra Lucknow Expressway till Lucknow. If that’s on a car, absolutely fine. But on a Motorcycle, of any Engine Capacity, in our country, one is barred from entering and using the Highways and Expressways. This forces you to go through the alternative options and encounter and negotiate city traffic. This is one example I’m using but there are innumerable such examples which riders may be able to relate to. One popular example would be the Delhi Chandigarh stretch onward to Ladakh, the mecca of bikers.

However, if you flout these restrictions and manage to enter one of these highways/expressways, you are likely and liable to be challaned for hefty sums which are again not worth the risk. (Do not take into account the local two wheelers which enjoy the privilege of using parts of these highways and prefer the wrong side also)

So the situation is : you pay almost 4 times a 800/1000cc car (talking about the Tiger 1200 here), equivalent amount of road tax just to possess a machine which is undoubtedly capable of doing triple digit speeds whole day without breaking a sweat and yet you are confined to using alternate routes akin to off-roading in some cases and given treatment like a second grade citizen just because you are on a two wheeler.

There is no denying the fact that the ban/restriction was imposed with a reason. Smaller capacity commuter bikes (100-150cc) which make 60-70% of motorcycle sales in our country are actually slow moving and cannot keep up with the traffic on these highways/expressways. Leave apart the capability of these small capacity bikes, the riders themselves don’t understand traffic rules properly, don’t have a clue about lane discipline, ride on the wrong lane and wrong side of the highway, take short cuts and put own and others lives at peril.

But the same template cannot be put on a responsible rider who apart from spending millions on the bike, pays lakhs on riding safety gear and expectedly rides responsibly. (You may discount exceptions everywhere)

So, my point is, why can’t bikes of higher capacity, maybe 350cc and above, be allowed to ply (with explicit restrictions) on these Highways and Expressways?

The following are some of the restrictions one could think of :-

• Restrictions on engine capacity. The motorcycle’s engine capacity may be the prime restricting factor. Same is endorsed in the RC, so checking and filtering entry should not be a problem.

• Compulsory Riding Gear. No entry without proper safety certified riding gear. Same may be made mandatory and checked at entry points

• Compulsory Toll. Bikes generally don’t pay tolls. Make these highways non-toll-exempted for bikes also. Something like fastag etc may be implemented. I’m sure if one can pay millions on a bike, won’t mind paying tolls and enjoy the bike on these highways where they actually belong.

• Strict Punishment for offenders. Punishment for flouting traffic rules may be made stricter and even seizure of bikes for stunt riding, racing etc to discourage violaters and unruly bikers and to set examples for all.

My simple rationale is : on one hand we are promoting premium biking in country by allowing collaborations and encouraging localisation, and on the other hand we are denying the buyers of these premium bikes the best of the roads of the country and confining them to lanes, byelanes and maze of city traffic for apparently no fault of theirs.

So, this post is like an appeal to the appropriate authority through this esteemed forum that rather than imposing a blanket ban on all bikes from entering the highways and expressways, if the above mentioned points and suggestions may be given a thought and motorcycles above a particular engine capacity (say 350cc) be allowed on Highways/Expressways across the country.

Here’s what BHPian shankar.balan had to say on the matter:

Voted Yes.

For now, the ‘few’ (meaning responsible enthusiasts), must suffer because of the misdemeanours of the ‘many’ (meaning the unaware and irresponsible multitudes of road users.)

Sorry. But thats the plain truth.

Here’s what BHPian roy_libran had to say on the matter:

Do owners of bigger capacity bikes not pay income tax?

Do owners of bigger capacity bikes not pay road tax?

Do owners of bigger capacity bikes not pay insurance and GST?

Are owners of bigger capacity bikes exempt from tolls?

Aren’t expressways and highways made with tax revenue and then further funded by tolls, so how can the asset be selectively provisioned?

Now replace ‘bigger capacity bikes’ to include all ‘bikes that can maintain expressway speeds’.

The Road laws that apply to powerful cars and super cars, and the subsequent risks to drivers and others, apply to motorcycles as well and there is absolutely no sensible justification in banning bikes like this.

Voted No.

By the way, motorcycle riders are far far more at risk to themselves and for others on the lesser national highways and state highways that they are being increasingly relegated to, than they are subjected to on Expressways.

Here’s what BHPian kosfactor had to say on the matter:

To me the criteria to qualify for expressway usage is not clear.

An old Maruti omni with bald tires can run at 80 kmph on the expressway as long as there is no crosswind or rain but so can a Splendor, why would a splendor guy not use the expressway to do Bangalore to Mandya or Mysore?

Sure, ask them to pay a toll but why stop them from using a toll road?

Here’s what BHPian sudeepG had to say on the matter:

Voted NO

Roads are built using taxes collected and that includes every vehicle owner. On tolled roads, every vehicle owner should be allowed to pay the toll and use it.

Enforce speed limits & rules and fine everyone for violations, regardless of whether it is a 4 Wheeler or Two wheeler.

We should never be selective in such matters. Laws apply to everyone EQUALLY! Period.

Here’s what BHPian Mystic had to say on the matter:

Voted Yes. India is not there yet.

• I am a civil engineer 40 years back and we have a subject called transportation engineering. I used to wonder if there were any express ways or autobahns in India which truly follow the civilian engineering standard guidelines as given in our text books. Our high ways are built at a higher elevation so that it doesn’t get immersed during rain and beyond that no other guide lines like camber is followed because high ways need to accommodate tractors, 3 wheelers, bullock carts, mopeds, Ferraris and stray animals coming on to the roads in the absence of electric barrier.

• Now fast forward 40 years and coming to today, Infrastructure is being developed in India with express ways on par with the world civil engineering standards and we still don’t know on how to use them efficiently and effectively. We still need to get educated on the road sense, civic sense, common sense along with knowledge on the capabilities and limitations of the automobiles. I am not trying to belittle any Indian drivers but I get very angry when I see NRIs when they come to India would cruise at 120 kph sped limit highways with kids in the front seats and sometimes in the laps of mothers.

• Coming to the 2 wheelers on autobahns or express ways. All 2 wheelers riders even if it is 2000 cc super bike need to understand that accidents are waiting to happen and it is just a matter of when. It may be delayed for some but eventually it has to happen because of the risks coming from the other vehicles going at high speeds and a slightest miscalculation would be catastrophic for the 2 wheeler rider even though he is very cautious and is on the right side of law.

• It is challenging technically and legally to differentiate which is 250 cc cc bike and which is a 400 cc bike. Either we allow all or restrict all.

I wish in another 20 years in my lifetime if we continue with the same pace of development as of today when the growth story of India includes all sections of the society , I will not be surprised if we have autobahns for the quadrilateral connection of our four metros in India.

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