The Tribune

On Sunday, January 7, two small motorbikes were traveling west on Bay Street from the heart of downtown to Cable Beach. Each bike was driven by a male with a female rider behind him.

Both drivers drove as if they had never driven a motorbike before. Average speed never hit 10mph. And because their route took them through single lane traffic all the way from east of the Hilton to Saunders Beach area and continuing west, the visiting couples who rode one bike behind the other in the middle of the lane held up dozens of cars behind them which were unable to pass because of oncoming traffic.

As they approached the roundabout by Prospect Ridge - where the single lane turns into a dual carriageway - the inevitable happened. One of the bikes crashed. The view they got of the Baha Mar golf course was from the ground with the bike’s spinning wheels on top of them, a view and an experience they are unlikely to forget.

This accident was just the latest in a litany of incidents that land visitors in hospital or send ambulances to their rescue day after day in the capital.

A doctor who has had experience in Emergency at both Doctors Hospital and PMH said he lost count of the number of times he has treated victims of motorbike accidents. Often it is cuts and bruises, but he has seen far worse, including broken bones on a regular basis, internal injuries, serious burns. And he has seen death.

Allowing individuals who visit The Bahamas to hop on a motorbike without a motorcycle licence or evidence of riding experience and take off in traffic driving on the left hand side of the road when, in all probability, they follow American or Canadian traffic rules is nothing short of reckless and borders on insane foolishness.

For the sake of a few dollars, are we so careless that we allow the practice of untrained guests in our country to take their safety into their own hands when we know the dangers? Or are we just not giving it enough thought?

We think, ‘Isn’t it cute? They get off a cruise ship, rent a bike for a few dollars, tour the island, take selfies, post them.’ All fun and games, except it is not. That is why in most other destinations, in order to rent a motorcycle you must have a valid motorcycle licence. Even in other ports which are frequently part of the same cruise itinerary which brings them to Nassau. In Puerto Rico, to rent a motorcycle, you have to have a valid motorcycle licence and a year of experience in heavyweight cycles. California, Florida, Nebraska all have particular requirements and in the UK, you have to take a motorcycle course and pass two tests, one on theory, the other a practical.

Yes, there are a few places in the world as lax about the practice as we are. Hawaii is one. But with six million visitors a year and bad experiences blowing up on social media faster than you can say ‘Watch out’ we should be watching out for what we allow to happen on our streets.

We are not suggesting the scooter or motorbike businesses fold their tents. Quite the opposite. We believe with better regulations and proper procedures in place, cycling can reach a different level in The Bahamas where the terrain is flat and the views often breathtaking. Well-run motorcycle businesses could create cycle tours and special routes, organise events and attract experienced riders who prefer a motorcycle over a scooter that has a horsepower capacity of less than 150cc.

Vespas and the classic Honda 50 or 90cc are fun and fuel-efficient for those who live in The Bahamas and are accustomed and licenced to drive on the left, but they should not be the vehicle of choice for the unexperienced on a two-wheeler with an engine and for whom even a car presents challenges because of roundabouts, lack of directional signage and left hand driving.

On top of that we have the additional challenge of the three- and four-wheel open motorised vehicle and our concern grows deeper.

According to the FIA, the official international motorsport authority, motor vehicle accident average costs are staggering. The average cost for each death in a motor vehicle accident is $1,130,000. Average cost for each non-fatal disabling injury is $61,600. Average cost for each property damage crash including non-disabling injuries is $7,500.

We hope the couple who crashed on West Bay Street just a bit shy of the Office of the Prime Minister did not suffer greatly and that what happened to them serves to help spark a national conversation that catches the attention of both the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Tourism.