Bali is the island of dreams for some, but for others, it can turn into a nightmare.
Being on vacation feels like a time to embrace freedom and let loose, and for many, this means jumping on a moped and zooming across the Indonesian island without a care in the world.
Except, as many tourists have never done so before, they often don’t abide by the road rules, are lax about their own safety and the safety of locals, and can even be involved in collisions.
This often results in a painful memento from their vacation in the form of stitches, scars, and broken bones.
Between late February 2023 and early March 2023, there were over 170 cases of traffic violations from foreigners on the island, which gives an indication of how much of an issue this is for residents.
Riding without helmets or clothes, and using fake license plates are just some of the issues police forces have seen when stopping tourists on mopeds.
The proposed ban is a controversial one, as many fear it would have negative implications on Bali‘s tourism, which is only just recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Bali motorbike rental businesses are concerned about the impact this would have on their financial situation. However, others support this way of curbing accidents and protecting road users.
In 2022, there were 68 recorded motorcycle accidents involving tourists, suggesting that the real number was much higher. Of these, 86 individuals suffered minor injuries, while four died.
These collisions most often occurred in tourist hotspots, such as Canggu and Denpasar.
While some of these were unavoidable accidents, other incidents were recorded as the effect of poor or limited driving skills or driving under the influence.
If the ban does go into effect, tourists will be forced to seek out alternative transportation options. Luckily, there are several options, including Grab and Go-Jek.
Visitors can also hire a private driver, whether that’s in a car or on the back of a scooter to transport them across the island and show them the sights.
