Bali police crack down on tourists using motorbikes after three foreigners die

Police in Bali are increasing patrols and have warned tourists they will take action against those who break these simple rules, which are often ignored.

Police in Bali are cracking down on tourists using motorbikes following the death of three foreigners on the roads in one district just this month, according to local media.

AKP Bachtiar Arifin, head of traffic unit for Buleleng Police, where the three fatal incidents took place, told reporters that changes must be made.

“What is clear is that we will carry out outreach to rental services and hotels, including limiting and selectively using motorbikes, especially foreign nationals,” he said, as reported by The Bali Sun.

That outlet also reported hotels who provide motorbike rental services will be asked to take preventive steps including accompanying foreign guests on motorbikes.

He said police would “increase patrols in places where there are many foreigners” and “carry out law enforcement” if foreigners are found to be breaking traffic laws, including not having an international driver’s licence or wearing a helmet.

A motorbike ban was proposed in March after Bali’s Governor became fed up with foreigners’ behaviour but it has not gone ahead. Picture: iStock

A rumour that tourists would no longer be able to rent motorbikes in Bali at all had been circulating for months until Indonesia’s Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Made Ayu Marthini set the record straight during a visit to Melbourne last month.

The plan for a “motorbike ban” or “scooter ban” first made global headlines in March after Bali’s governor Wayan Koster told media that unruly tourists had prompted changes that would see foreigners only allowed to rent cars from travel agents.

Police in Buleleng regency will increase patrols in places where there are many foreigners after three died in separate road incidents in November. Picture: Komang Erviani

When news.com.au asked Mrs Marthini whether the ban was going to happen, she said there was no flat out ban but rather stricter rules being enforced – meaning it will likely become harder for Australians to rent a motorbike in Bali.

“If you ride a motorbike, just as in Australia, you should have a helmet and a license for your safety as well as that of other motorists,” she said, referring to the country’s plea for tourists to respect its local laws and customs.

As for the crackdown on motorbikes, she explained “the laws have always existed, but we [are] just proceeding to push the enforcement of these laws”.

“This is for tourist safety as well as that of our Indonesian community,” she said.

“The laws do not ban tourists from renting scooters, only from renting them from unauthorised rental operators.”