close
Friday April 19, 2024

Who will prevent bikers from doing stunts?

Even Ramazan has not prevented bikers from doing daredevil stunts on the city roads, lifting up front wheel while sitting with legs spread, even standing on the seat, surrounded by other bikers. Usually they take over the whole lane forcing other vehicle drivers to change the lane. “Most of them

By Ibne Ahmad
July 05, 2015
Even Ramazan has not prevented bikers from doing daredevil stunts on the city roads, lifting up front wheel while sitting with legs spread, even standing on the seat, surrounded by other bikers. Usually they take over the whole lane forcing other vehicle drivers to change the lane.
“Most of them do not wear helmets and surprise car drivers as they weave through traffic. Some of the wheel-lifting bikers go well above the legal speed limit,” says Yasir Rizvi from Committee Chowk.
“They zip in and out of traffic. I've come close to hitting them numerous times. It is disrespectful and careless to ride among the rest of traffic performing stunts and putting lives in danger,” says Zabeeh Hussein, a cleric.
In Saddar, I saw some youngsters wildly driving on the wrong side of the road. Some were blocking roads and performing stunts. The majority of the riders were males who appeared to be in their 20s. They were not stopping at red lights,” says Mukhtaar Mahdi, a banker.
“I watch bikers ride up and down the roads even at night. I wonder why they perform in Ramazan every year such acts. On Islamabad Expressway I saw a group blocking three lanes. As soon as I had an opening, I drove fast through them. One of riders came so close to me that I winged his bike with my car. As the bike fell on the ground the rider turned out to be a girl as her helmet flew off,” says Aqeel Jafar, an engineer.
“Haider Kazim who lives in Iqbal Town says: “I brand these stunt bikers as thoughtless endangering the public. Modern culture has driven this image of lawlessness. I fear for my safety amid scores of bikers on the road. The real problem is the volume of bikes on the roads.”
“These idiots are just selfish thrill-seeking, havoc-making rebels with no concern for others' safety. Freedom without consideration for others and traffic rules is chaos. Where are their parents? I would lose sleep if any of them would die on the street because of their rashness,” says Kaleem Raza, a painter from Kuri Road.
“My father and brothers used to race motorcycles so I grew up very much in the center of that scene and all those bikers I grew up with are ashamed of most bikers today. They speed past pedestrians acting unsafe and should be stopped,” says Basil Taqi, a trader from Gulzare Quaid.
“Who will prevent bikers from performing stunts in Ramazan? I don't want to group all riders together, as many are law abiding and considerate,” says Fasahat Askari, a doctor from Faisal Town.
Aahil Hussain, an artist from Shah Khalid says: “I think these riders are in love with adventure. These are kids who want shortcut to fame. I presume they believe taking up the whole road with no regard for anyone else is the way to do that, to impress friends." “At times I feel like hammering these dim-witted guys. As a result, they will be removed from the DNA pool and won’t disturb motorists any longer,” says Akif Raza, a steel mill owner from Airport Housing Society.
The favorite spots of these bikers are Faizabad-Koral Chowk, Committee Chowk-Marir, Saddar-Kutchery and Scheme-III- Airport Link Road stretch etc. These nocturnal creatures hit the road before or after ‘Iftar’. During afternoons too they are active,” says Afraz Ali, an Advocate.