Pillion riding in the Valley may become expensive for the unprepared. Anyone not wearing a helmet will get slapped with a up to Rs 200 fine by the Valley Traffic Police Office who have made helmets compulsory.
But this safety is coming at a cost. Nepal has about 230,000 motorbikes. If 200,000 bike owners were to spend Rs 400 each for a new helmet, it would cost the country Rs 80 million. Add the cost of a storage sidebox, 'dickey', and we are looking at Rs 200 million in imports. Every year an average of 50,000 Nepalis buy new motorbikes. Can we afford this, some are asking.