Bali Wants to Ban Foreigners From Renting Scooters and Motorbikes

Key Points:

1. Bali's governor has requested national authorities to ban all foreigners from renting motorbikes and scooters due to a spate of incidents, including abuse of police by foreign riders, failing to wear helmets and using fake number plates.

2. The ban proposal could damage Bali's economy as scooter rental services are popular among tourists. Russian and Ukrainian tourists face the heaviest crackdown, with the governor requesting the government in Jakarta to revoke visas on arrival for them.

3. Some tourists argue that an age limit would solve the problem rather than banning all foreigners from renting scooters.

Will Bali ban tourists from renting scooters and motorbikes?

Bali's governor, Wayan Koster, has called for a ban on foreigners renting motorbikes and scooters as part of a crackdown on traffic violations and bad behavior. The move comes after a spate of incidents involving foreign riders abusing police, failing to wear helmets, and using fake number plates. Mr. Koster urged travelers to use transportation provided by travel agencies instead of motorbikes or anything else not from a travel agent. However, this proposal could hurt Bali's economy as scooter rental services are popular among tourists.

Agustinus Winjaya, who runs a scooter rental service, warned against forcing regulations on everyone due to the actions of one or two tourists. He said some foreigners were irresponsible, but not all of them. Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian tourists face the heaviest crackdown as they have been flouting road rules and working illegally in Bali. The governor has requested the government in Jakarta to revoke visas on arrival for them.

"If they make it hard to get visas for Russians, Ukrainians, we will look for other places to go," said Russian tourist Alexander Ivanov. "South-East Asia is not Indonesia alone; Thailand has beautiful places."

Some tourists argue that restricting the age limit would solve the problem rather than banning all foreigners from renting scooters. Paul Harrison from Melbourne said that younger people always ride scooters no matter what but if the age limit is restricted, many issues would stop.

"I think personally if you restrict the age limit of someone who can come and ride in Bali, I think you'll find a lot of issues stop," he said. "A lot of younger people, they always scooter no matter what."

Chris Lyons, a tourist from Canada, said roads were dangerous and saw a serious accident while out at a restaurant. "I wouldn't want to be on a scooter. I thought I was going to be on the scooter all the time … in a town that is quiet, you know, I would consider riding it," he said.

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-15/bali-proposed-motorbike-scooter-ban-tourists/102102268

Baligram’s Assessment

We don’t think Bali will end up banning tourists from riding motorbikes. It is an important part of the local economy, motorbikes reduce car traffic, which is notorious on Bali and burn less fossil fuel than cars; and the digital nomad and ex-pat populations would leave in droves if this policy were enacted.

However, we do support Bali enforcing their road rules, banning bad drivers, and even deporting repeat offenders. As guests in Indonesia, we should respect local rules, respect our fellow travelers on the road, and behave to the same standard that our home country would expect.

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