Bali motorcycle ban: Here’s how it could affect Australian tourists

Key points
  • This follows a series of incidents in which tourists violated traffic laws.
  • More than 171 tourists were fined for traffic violations.
  • Some have also been caught using fake license plates.
Foreigners may be banned from driving motorcycles in Bali after a series of incidents in which tourists violated traffic rules.
If approved, the proposed ban will go into effect later this year and tourists will be allowed to drive cars rented from travel agents.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster said the changes are aimed at ensuring public safety.

“As tourists, [you should] act like tourists, instead of riding around on motorcycles, without T-shirts and clothes, without helmets, violating [traffic rules] And all this without a license,” he said.

From late February to early March, more than 171 tourists were fined for violating traffic rules, according to local police. Some have also been caught using fake license plates.

There are concerns about the impact of the ban on the tourism sector, including bike rental businesses, which have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Sudanese motorcycle rental business owner Bujanga Waisnava, 53, is urging the governor to reconsider the plan.

“It limits us. We just got back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, with this, how can we (survive)? Not to mention the taxes we have to pay.”