Besides the public expressed concern about the perceived dangers of the bikers’ activities in a society, many people believe that bikers exhibit weird behaviours.
For instance, the views of some residents of Abuja indicate that bikers are seen as dirty smokers, disturbance to traffic flow, uneducated and gang members, among other lifestyles.
But a bikers’ club in Abuja, 09 bikers Motorcycle Club (09ersMC), explains that bikers have a deep sense of responsibility to the safety not only of self, but to any and every road user.
“09ersMC is dedicated to promoting motorcycling through social engagement and responsibility, and by sharing the personal accounts of its members’ self-discovery, individual growth and biking mastery.
“We are a social entity whose motto — Safety First — is self-explanatory. Beyond riding, our social responsibility engagements include, but are not limited to, monthly charity events to orphanages in and around the FCT, hospital visits where financial assistance is handed out to the most needy patients, and food donations.
“09ersMC comprises handful dedicated and determined gentlemen from different works and professions who found themselves inextricably bound to one another, not only by their love of riding motorcycles, but by a grander cause born of unique understanding.
“We are a diverse group of individuals from all works of life initially brought together by our passion for motor biking.
Those relationships had since evolved into friendships and bonds of brotherhood beyond the two wheels on the roads,’’ the club said in its mission statement.
This statement notwithstanding, skeptics insist that activities of bikers are disturbing to the society, particularly to road users.
They note that bikers are seen on the streets of Nigeria mostly drawing attention each time they pass a street with loud noises.
According to them, some of them ride their bikes at a top speed to shock and impress passers-by and onlookers, while many youths have died due to their recklessness in riding.
Mr Johnson Ajayi, a resident of Abuja, notes that bikers disturb public peace by the noise of their motorbikes, apart from intimidating motorists by their speed on highways.
But the riders’ club notes that every biker gets penalised for compromising safety, including not using full kit before riding.
Similarly, Mr Jackson Gilbert, a motorist in Abuja, says bikers’ activities have been a source concern for residents who are not familiar with the method of their operations.
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it plays cardinal role in ensuring that bikers also operate within the confines of established regulations on the use of roads.
FRSC Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem in charge of public education, says traffic laws are not discriminatory.
“As a lead agency saddled with the responsibility of enforcing traffic laws, just the way we regulate the activities of other road users is the same way we regulate the activities of bikers.
“Take for instance, the law is explicit on mandatory use of helmet by all two wheel vehicles, by this, any biker seen contravening that provision of the law must be arrested and charged with the necessary penalties.
“More so, most parts of the roads have designated speed limit as indicated by the signs placed on the road side to regulate speed; this speed limit signs are to be obeyed by all road users including bikers at all time irrespective of whether or not the road is free and deserted,’’ he cautions.
He says the corps has its presence at the moment in virtually all the local governments in the country and “our operatives are on the road on a daily basis enforcing compliance to traffic laws; to that effect, all activities of road users including bikers are intelligently monitored at all times.
“Our field operatives and commands across the country checks the activities of bikers through enlightenment, enforcement and education.
“The roads are designed to accommodate all categories of road users, including pedestrians; where the road infrastructure makes adequate provisions as stated, bikers are allowed only to ply the section allocated to them.
“But where those provisions are lacking in the architectural design of the road, the law might be flexible putting to mind the gaps inherent in the country’s road infrastructure.
“Biking is good but bikers must always ride in full compliance with all established laws and regulations such as compulsory use of helmet, obey prescribed speed limits, be lane disciplined and avoid dangerous overtaking, among others’’.
Beyond the sceptics’ opinions and the law, bikers insist that they are very relevant to the society.
When challenged, they explain they are riding on a public highway and therefore not breaking any laws.
They also admit that riding recklessly and causing damage is considered to be antisocial behaviour and is against the law, says a biker in Abuja.
A biker, who spoke pleading anonymity, also noted that bikers’ roles in the society could include creating awareness on issues.
He cited Jeminat Olumegbon, an events manager in Lagos, who set up the Female Bikers initiative with her friend, Nnenna Samuila, to facilitate some form of education for Nigerian women cancer of the cervix.
All in all, enthusiasts of bikers’ activities insist that it doesn’t matter how these bikers are seen and described, it is when they are seen on their bikes, that people can see how much fun they can create.
