Phnom Penh streets feel noticeably different over the past few days. It used to be that once night fell, you'd constantly hear kids speeding by on modified motorbikes, exhaust pipes blasting loud enough to rattle the windows of nearby apartments. According to local media, Prime Minister Hun Manet gave strict orders for police across the country to crack down hard on these modified exhausts. The police aren't playing around either—if you get caught, you have to strip the illegal pipe right there on the spot and put the stock factory one back on, or your bike stays put.
Sitting at a roadside stall today with an iced coffee, I noticed a police checkpoint set up at the intersection right across the street. A few sunburnt traffic cops were keeping a sharp eye out for loud motorbikes. Any bike making the wrong kind of noise was flagged down immediately. Officials say the racket isn't just a nuisance keeping people up at night, it also encourages street racing and causes accidents. Local residents chatting over tea agreed the crackdown was long overdue, saying they were fed up with being jerked awake in the middle of the night.
Around here, almost everyone gets about on two wheels, and between the fumes and engine noise, evening rush hour used to leave your ears ringing. But now that police are forcing riders to strip those noisy pipes, the deafening roars on the street have dropped dramatically. Walking down the side alleys, instead of revving engines, you mostly just hear the sizzle of street food stalls and drivers calling out for passengers. It’s a small change, but it makes everyday life in the city a whole lot more comfortable.
