Motorcyclists are angered over a City of Cape Town’s traffic by-law amendment they say will outlaw lane sharing with cars or riding between cars (lane-splitting).

A Cape Argus report says bikers have accused the city of trying to ban them from riding between motor vehicles and making motorcycles behave like cars.

Bike dealership Bike Bros said there were many changes proposed, but the one of most concern to them is section 49 (6) (a) of the Draft Traffic By-law, that states that lane sharing by a motorcycle and another vehicle will no longer be permissible.

‘We believe that this section of the proposal is extremely ill-advised. Bear in mind that Cape Town is the most heavily congested city in the country. Making motorcycles ride like a car in congested traffic situations makes no sense at all – it will just add to the problem.’

According to Bike Bros, this would be the death knell for many motorcycle dealers.

‘If the dealers start disappearing, what will happen to the already stressed motorcycle market? Motorcycles will end up as no more than toys for the wealthy few.’

Mayco member JP Smith has dismissed the bikers’ claims.

‘Whoever is suggesting that the new traffic by-law is attempting to ban motorcycles from riding between motor vehicles has not read it and is creating a false panic. The section clearly shows that the provision in the by-law does not attempt to ban motorcycles from ‘lane-splitting’. The provision in the by-law is an exact duplicate of what the national legislation says and the national legislation does not ban motorcycles from moving between vehicles when traffic is slow-moving.’

Full Cape Argus report