Hurting! As ‘No Go Zone’ Nibbles Cyclists, Commuters

Government’s clampdown on commercial motorcyclists in Monrovia seems to have hurting effects on pedestrians and targeted operators themselves, as the declared restriction has not been lifted since identified police check-points were made buffer zones for ‘No Go Zone’  for commercial bikes.   With the swollen population of Monrovia and its environs, the enforcement of a ‘No Go Zone’ restriction has compounded the complexity of people commuting in the city on a daily basis. Before the restriction mandate was announced by the government, a record number of commuters had been accustomed to riding commercial bikes to and fro in the city to get to job sites or attend individual businesses. Many commuters also prefer riding commercial bikes to avoid traffics either in the morning, afternoon or evening hours. Since the restriction was imposed by government, the number of commuters rushing for vehicles or tricycles has increased steadily. Facial expression during commuters’ search for commercial vehicles or tricycles has indicated frustration and regret over what prompted the imposition of the enforced restriction against commercial bike operators. For over two weeks, the Liberia National Police has ensured that no commercial cyclists ply major routes leading to central Monrovia. The enforcement of  a ‘No Go Zone’ for the cyclists has been orchestrated by recent outburst of violence by angry motorcyclists  against LNP officers at various police booths in designated places. The cyclists reportedly took law into their own hands in attacking police officers as a result of an accident involving a defected truck around the premises of Slipway near the Gabriel Tucker Bridge that links Bushrod Island and central Monrovia. The accident in question reportedly led to casualties of which one cyclist died.   At targeted police booths, officers had to run for their lives when they were reportedly swamped by furious cyclists in what appeared to be a direct retaliation to the truck’s accident. Meanwhile, on Monday, 3rd March, in their numbers, motorcyclists flooded the main streets in Monrovia in a peaceful protest to the ‘No Go Zone’ regulation, an apparent intent for the government to relax the restriction but the enforcement still stands. It can be recalled that in the first year of the current regime, the government regulated the movement of commercial motorcycles not to ply strategic main streets leading to central Monrovia, but the ‘No Go Zone’ was relaxed when Vice President Jeremiah Koung appealed and adjustment was made compelling cyclists and riders to use helmets on the main streets while check-points were placed at entrances of alleys to control the movement of cyclists.  It is yet uncertain how the current regulation will be relaxed as the government has not shown any sign of reconsidering its latest decision on what recently transpired between the LNP and commercial motorcyclists. LNP personnel, motorcyclists.