GUYANA’S roads are suffering from a preventable issue: Electric motorcycles, those affordable speed machines disguised as eco-friendly vehicles are creating dangers in our communities.
Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh’s urgent call for a national shift is a warning as fatalities rise. From the tragic death of a female rider in Providence this week to Kendell Lewis’s untimely passing in February, the trend is alarming: Eleven people killed and 14 seriously injured between 2021 and 2023, according to police data. One death is too many; this crisis requires action, not excuses.
These e-bikes, selling for $70,000 to $150,000, have gained popularity due to their low cost and easy use—speeds under 50 km/h and no fuel problems. Parents buy them for their kids, and touts weave through traffic, but too many treat public roads like playgrounds.
Widespread non-compliance exists: No registration, no insurance, no valid licences, and no helmets, often with riders under 16 or passengers increasing the risk.
The 2023 law is clear: Under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, e-cycles are motorcycles! End of story! Riders must be licensed from age 16 after passing theory exams, just like those who ride petrol bikes.
Singh’s Traffic Department started education campaigns after the new law, but defiance continues. Minors bypass junctions, swerve dangerously, and get hit by trucks in poorly lit areas. Defensive driving? Many don’t know what that means.
This isn’t freedom; it’s reckless. Cheap thrills are hurting families, filling emergency rooms, and undermining our progress towards safer roads.
It’s time to stop worrying. Law enforcement needs to shift from putting up posters to active patrolling. They should increase checkpoints, seize unlicensed e-bikes, and fine pacrents who allow underage riding.
Retailers should require proof of age and a licence intent at the point of sale. Schools and communities must include road safety lessons, focusing on e-bike hotspots like East Bank Demerara.
Guyana’s government, promoting green transport, must combine incentives with strict regulations—subsidise helmets and training, but take action against negligence.
Singh is right: Re-education starts now, but compliance is essential. Until we treat e-bikes as the motor vehicles they are, our roads will remain dangerous. Let’s honour those who have lost their lives by protecting the living—before another “everyday occurrence” takes a life.