Superbikes Owners Are Being Targetted By Police In Delhi-NCR: Biking Community
Superbikes are a dream for many people, and there are few fortunate people who get to own one. However, what if we tell you that some of these superbike owners, even after paying the complete price of their bikes, cannot ride them on the road? You’ll say, “How is that possible?” Well, recently, a few superbike owners from Delhi-NCR have raised their voices and concerns regarding the extremely strict rules for riding motorcycles on expressways. They have also expressed that they feel targeted by the police authorities.
Superbike owners cannot enjoy their rides
Recently, while talking to a media outlet, Mohit Seth, Vice President of DBS Bank, which is a Singapore-based bank, shared his frustration. He highlighted that despite paying Rs 27 lakh for his BMW GS1200 adventure motorcycle, it has been sitting at his home and collecting dust. Seth emphasized that he has not taken out his bike for a ride in over five months.
The reason behind this is that he fears the police might stop him and issue challans or even raise an FIR for rash driving. He stated, “It’s not just me. Many bikers have stopped riding because of the fear of being penalized.” Seth added that bikers who have invested heavily in their bikes cannot ride on expressways as they get fined for it.
Expressways have restricted access
Presently, Seth and many other bikers have stated that the ban on two-wheelers on the Delhi-Gurgaon (NH8) and Delhi-Meerut Expressway is unfair. They added that two-wheelers are only allowed on the Yamuna and Noida Expressways, and that too with heavy tolls. The riders have mentioned that due to this, they have nowhere to drive their expensive superbikes, which have big engines.
Additionally, they highlighted that speed limits are another issue. They have mentioned that normally the speed limit on these expressways is 100 kmph, and during low-visibility weather, it is restricted to only 75 kmph. Now, the frustrating part about this for riders of these superbikes is that these bikes cannot even cruise on these roads without exceeding the speed limits.
Harassment by police
Another major concern raised by Seth and numerous other superbike riders is that they continuously get targeted by police authorities. Recently, Noida Police detained over 79 riders and also seized many bikes. Of these people, 29 were corporate executives, and 6 of them were businessmen. The police authorities claimed that these men were racing and causing road safety concerns.
Due to such instances, the superbike owners and riders feel that they cannot ride their expensive bikes due to these irrational actions by police authorities. They highlighted that even if they are riding normally, they get stopped and fined for racing, rash driving, and stunting, even if they do not do any of these activities.
Additionally, the riders have stated that they respect road safety rules. For this reason, they have even invested in expensive safety riding gear. However, the police authorities completely overlook this aspect and accuse these riders of illegal racing and endangering the lives of others.
Appeal against the authorities
One such rider, Sidhant Malaiya, who is a resident of Gurgaon and a lawyer by profession, in October of this year filed a petition. He stated that all types of two-wheelers, regardless of engine capacity, should be allowed on the expressways. However, his plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court, citing that it would not be safe.
Malaiya, who is an owner of a Rs 30 lakh BMW GS1250R, has stated that he cannot use his bike due to the fear of fines and FIRs. He is planning to sell it to recover his losses. The lawyer added that he will also sell his riding gear, on which he has invested a lot of money. Along with Seth and Malaiya, there are numerous other riders who have shared the same sentiments.
Police’s reply
Despite the concerns of the motorcycle-riding community, Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh has given a bold statement. She stated, “Expressways are not meant for racing. So if bikers want to race, they can take their superbikes to the racing tracks. Our expressways should be spared as their thrill for speed is dangerous for other commuters.”