KUCHING: Police have warned cyclists against using highways, including the Pan Borneo Highway, following a fatal crash that reignited concerns over cyclist safety on high-speed roads.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department’s (JSPT) Director, Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, stressed that highways are strictly reserved for motor vehicles such as lorries, buses, cars and motorcycles, and are off-limits to bicycles.
He said cyclists who ignore the prohibition risk not only endangering their lives but also facing heavy penalties under existing traffic laws.
The warning follows a recent fatal crash involving a 19-year-old driver and a cyclist, an incident that sparked widespread debate online over the dangers of cycling on high-speed roads.
With Sarawak’s expanding highway network and the continued upgrading of the Pan Borneo Highway, authorities said traffic flow has become faster, increasing the risk for cyclists using routes not designed for non-motorised vehicles.
Under Section 70(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, cyclists found riding on prohibited roads can be fined between RM1,000 and RM5,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
Police also cited Section 17 of the Traffic Signs Rules 1959, which expressly prohibits bicycles, tricycles and animal-drawn vehicles from entering highways.
In addition, Rule 66 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 requires cyclists to use safer routes and avoid heavily congested or high-speed traffic areas.
Authorities urged cyclists to carry out recreational activities only at designated locations such as parks and dedicated bicycle lanes provided by local councils.
Police said exemptions are granted only for officially sanctioned cycling events conducted under police supervision or within controlled road closures.
