Forum: Make better use of bus lanes and road shoulders to improve motorcycle safety

Although motorcycles make up only about 15 per cent of Singapore’s vehicle population, motorcyclists and pillion riders account for more than half of all road deaths. These statistics highlight the inherent risks of having motorcycles on the same roads as larger and heavier vehicles.

Motorcycles differ significantly from cars, lorries and heavy vehicles in terms of size, stability and rider protection. In a collision, the motorcyclist is almost always the more vulnerable party.

I recently visited Hainan, including the cities of Haikou and Sanya, and was impressed to see that motorcycles, electric scooters and other two-wheeled vehicles often have dedicated lanes or separate road space. By reducing interactions with larger vehicles, such segregation helps minimise conflicts and improve safety for all road users.

Singapore could consider a similar approach by allowing motorcycles to use designated bus lanes and selected road shoulders under carefully controlled conditions.

Given their small footprint, motorcycles generally do not impede bus operations. Allowing motorcycles to use these lanes could provide a safer travel corridor.

Road shoulders are intended mainly for broken-down vehicles, incident management and emergency access for ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles. However, they are unoccupied for much of the time. Where road geometry permits, widened shoulders could be shared with motorcycles, subject to appropriate rules and safeguards. As motorcycles are compact and highly manoeuvrable, riders can readily give way whenever emergency vehicles require access.

Singapore can study the experiences of places that have successfully implemented motorcycle lanes or segregated road networks for two-wheeled vehicles. While such measures would not eliminate accidents, they could reduce both the frequency and severity of motorcycle-related crashes.

Every life saved matters. If designated motorcycle lanes can prevent even a fraction of the serious injuries and fatalities that occur each year, they deserve serious consideration.

Improving motorcycle safety is not merely a transport issue; it is a societal and public safety responsibility.

Solomon Tan Kia Tang