Letter to the Editor
I got a terrible shock when I checked my email to find HSSAN (Higher Secondary Schools Association Nepal) and Kathmandu Metropolitan Police are planning to ban motorbikes for 10+2 students. I couldn't believe my eyes. This is clearly a violation of our rights.

Will banning bikes for students really put an end to problems like road accidents, traffic jams and lack of discipline among college goers as HSSAN and the traffic police claim? The city traffic police are corrupt, incompetent and cannot do their jobs well. They would do better to try and manage the infamous traffic jams of the city than indulge in silly tactics like banning youths from riding bikes.

I can understand some of the reasons for the colleges and the police wanting to stop students from riding bikes. But those concerns have fairly simple solutions. Colleges can stop students from bunking classes by asking them to turn over their motorbike keys once they are inside the college and handing the keys back to them once the classes are over. Attendance can be taken at the end of every class. Students can be given orientation about safe riding and traffic rules

There are many students like me who are passionate about bikes and we don't think there is anything wrong with it. Putting excessive control on students will only provoke them more.

Gaurav Pandey