A video of motorcyclists using a car lane at the Penang Bridge toll plaza has drawn criticism online, with users calling on authorities to act against riders who bypass designated motorcycle lanes.
The footage, shared by the Penang Kini Facebook page, showed several motorcyclists weaving through the car lane instead of using the motorcycle lane at the toll plaza. The date and time of the incident have not been confirmed, NST reported.
The post quickly drew hundreds of comments, with many urging the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to review CCTV footage and issue summonses.
User Anuar Mnoor tagged both agencies, saying CCTV should be used to trace and fine the riders. Others suggested enforcement operations at motorcycle lanes may have contributed to the problem.
Shahrom Nizam Jelmol raised the possibility that the motorcycle lane had been blocked by a roadblock, forcing riders into the car lane. Zainol Zaki Zaini added that previous enforcement operations at motorcycle lanes had made some riders avoid the route altogether.
The incident is the latest in a series of toll plaza confrontations involving motorcyclists in Penang. In May, The Sun reported a group of riders near the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza in Butterworth who made abrupt U-turns and fled when a policeman approached, after one rider fell off his bike while braking suddenly.
Commenters on that story criticised the riders for endangering other road users. One wrote that even daily commuters found the behaviour intolerable, saying riders would “suddenly slam on the brakes when they spot a roadblock ahead” and that it was “seriously troublesome and dangerous for everyone else on the road.”
Another commenter claimed some riders spent thousands modifying their motorcycles but neglected licences, road tax and insurance, adding that many would flee or ride against traffic to avoid having their bikes seized.
The problem extends beyond the first Penang Bridge. In June last year, police launched an investigation after a group of high-powered motorcycle riders used a car and lorry lane on the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, also known as the second Penang Bridge. Seberang Perai Selatan district police chief Superintendent Jay January Siowou said the incident occurred at KM0.4 of the bridge and would be investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act for reckless driving.
The repeated incidents have fuelled a broader debate about enforcement at Penang’s toll plazas and bridge access points. Some argue that the current toll lane design leaves little room for error when riders are funnelled into narrow lanes, while others say the issue comes down to a small group of riders who refuse to follow lane discipline.
Penang has two major bridges connecting the island to the mainland, both with dedicated motorcycle lanes at their toll plazas. The lanes are designed to separate motorcycle traffic from cars and heavy vehicles for safety.
Authorities have not issued a formal response to the latest video.
