RANGOON — Rangoon regional government is reviewing a ban on motorcycles in central areas of Burma’s commercial capital, the region’s transport minister told lawmakers during the regional legislative session of parliament on Thursday.
Responding to a question concerning official permission for motorcycle licenses and dealers in the outskirts of the city’s municipal council-controlled areas, the minister of electricity, industry, roads and transportation Daw Nilar Kyaw said that the regional government was “completing reviews on rules and regulations related to setting territories for motorcycle riding.”
“After setting areas [for motorcycle use], motorcyclists must have a driving license and a license for their vehicle,” she said, adding that the regulation must be robustly enforced.
While there is no specific law for riding two-wheeled vehicles in Rangoon, motorcycles have been banned in 33 municipal council-controlled townships since the early 2000s while government officials were allowed to ride motorcycles until July 2009, as per “guidelines” released by the city’s transport authorities.
There are currently 14 townships that are not under the administration of the city’s municipal authority—Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)—where many residents regularly use motorcycles.
Burma has an estimated four million registered motorcycles in the country, based on official figures, and many more are imported illegally.
Daw Nilar Kyaw said she could not say when an announcement on the updated regulations would be made.
