Dear Editor,
Not too long ago, a female expressed her discontent because of government not following up a promise to discuss providing space for motorcycle riders to practice what they consider a sport. At that time I did not agree with it and I still do not agree with it, simply because of the danger involved and the lack of professionals to be able to manage such an organization. To that end I would encourage those interested in organizing motorbikes (racing) competition to contact those drag racing organizations of Aruba and Curaçao to get an idea what it’s all about.
For more than 40 years I have been dispatched to traffic accidents with minor injuries to deaths and every time the feeling was as if it was the first time, because I strongly believe that nobody wants to see another person injured. Believe it or not, not even in boxing. So my question is what is the reason that even after continuously seeing their fellow motorbike riders, friends, relatives, both male and female increasingly getting injured and even fatally, they continue to conduct themselves irresponsibly in the traffic.
I do not have to describe the irresponsible behaviour because it is not an isolated affair. When I see them zigging and zagging through the traffic, beeping their horns as it were, letting the other traffic know “I'm coming through” I would say to myself “Where are they going?” My reaction when I read that article/letter from that lady at that time was, that it was time that the police invite a delegation of the bikers to have a talk in order to discuss the pros and cons of their behaviour in traffic and the consequences, as well as the legalities thereof.
I say it all the time: “The car does not feel the pain, the wall does not feel the pain, neither does the ground. It is the rider and the fellow rider.” We are constantly busy talking about the behaviour of the young people, but what are we physically doing to contain this not so desirable behaviour? As far as I can track on social media, it is one motorbike accident a week. Fifty-two accidents in 365 days in which young people are hurt or killed is far too many on 37 square miles of land. Say one say two. I strongly believe that VROMI should be consulted in order to determine the built-up areas of St. Maarten.
The speed limits for St. Maarten also should be revised because of the excessive number of cars and other motor vehicles, such as oversized heavy equipment, as well as oversized buses, oversized trailers, gas and water trucks, etc. And the width of the roads not being able to accommodate them. Not to mention that all traffic on the roundabouts is disrupted when any one of this heavy equipment enters the roundabout. And talking about the motorbike riders, they take pleasure in showing their ability to manoeuver through the traffic on the roundabouts. Not to forget the foul language and the blowing they use at drivers who do not pull aside for them.
I dare say that they are inconsiderate because they do not care about those who care about them. On December 1, coming government along with the council of churches will be giving thanks for a peaceful hurricane season. But we don't want God in government and we take God out of the schools. When I google the word “hypocrisy” it defines it as “the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than the case.”
Again, I would like the police to invite a delegation of bikers for a meeting in order for them to come to an understanding of the way forward.
Russell A. Simmons
