JB council applies to ban teenage cyclists from roads during certain periods

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) will submit an application to the Transport Ministry to ban teenage cyclists from utilising certain roads at certain times in a drastic move to stop the Mat Lajak problem.

Mayor A Rahim Nin said MBJB had carried out a review of the existing laws to help tackle the issue that the problem still persisted despite the tragic incident in February in which eight teenage cyclist were killed when a car rammed into them.

"Under the Road Transport Act 1987, bicycles are categorised as a type of vehicle and as such, bicycles are subjected to traffic laws under the Act.

"Based on this, MBJB through its Law Department, will submit an application to the Transport Ministry to confer the council the power to disallow vehicles from utilising certain roads at certain times.

"In this context, we will restrict cycling activities by children or teenagers under the age of 18 years at night," he said during an MBJB council meeting here on Wednesday.