SEVERAL rental operators of George Town’s popular quadricycles have vowed to continue operations, albeit with more care, until the city council seizes all their vehicles following recent enforcement against the four-wheel pedal cars.

“We have invested money. We can’t just leave it like that.

“My quadricycles are still available for rent if tourists want them. I will continue for as long as I can,” rental operator Goh Chin Hua told The Malaysian Insight recently.

Since Jan 1, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has prohibited activities involving bicycles with more than two wheels on council roads under Section 107(2) of the Local Government Act 1976.

MBPP said in a recent statement that it had never approved or allowed quadricycles as they endangered the safety of riders and other road users.

Rental operators have been issued notices, apart from fines for obstructing public walkways with their vehicles, as the council enforces the ruling.

While many rental operators have since stopped displaying their vehicles, which are popular with tourists keen on discovering the city via a novelty ride, some are openly defying the ban by offering the four-wheelers along with regular bicycles.

Goh said he had been telling his customers not to leave the quadricycles unattended by the road or public walkways.

“Council enforcement officers make their rounds near my shop all the time. But I have not gotten into trouble,” he said.

MBPP enforcement and public education standing committee chairman Ahmad Azrizal Tahir said the council would only take action if the vehicles were left unattended and obstructing the public.

“We don’t take action when the quadricycles are on the move, but we will seize the vehicles if they are left on public walkways,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Azrizal said MBPP was drawing up regulations for bicycle rentals, which included quadricycles, but did not go into details.

Goh, who heads an association of some 15 bicycle rental operators, said the members were aware that the council would eventually prohibit all use of quadricycles.

“Most of us don’t see the point of fighting when the authorities have the power,” he said.

“We will just see how long we can hang on.”

Most of the bicycle rental operators are in the Unesco world heritage zone.

The four-wheel pedal cars, which were first introduced three years ago, have been a hit with tourists but recently attracted complaints as riders were accused of contributing to traffic jams and endangering other motorists by going against the traffic, not stopping at traffic junctions and obstructing public walkways.

Recognising the tourist demand for bicycles, MBPP last December introduced a RM1.85 million bicycle-sharing system called LinkBike, which is fast gaining popularity.

Under the system, anyone can pick up a bike from any of the 25 LinkBike stations, many of which are in the city and close to tourist attractions, and return it at any of the stations.

Users sign up for the service on the LinkBike website, mobile app or buy a credit package. They can unlock a bike from the docking station by scanning the QR code with the LinkBike mobile app, or by using the LinkBike card.

A one-day pass valid for 24 hours costs RM2 while a one-year pass costs RM30. – April 18, 2017.