Motodops are very cheap and everywhere in Sihanoukville so transportation is never a problem. Car taxies are much more rare. Sihanoukville is a spread out town so you will need transportation almost everywhere as walking is usually impractical. Even though motodops are so cheap and readily available, and some of them have invaluable knowledge and aren't bad guys, they do tend to cramp my style since you always have to dodge commissions and it's harder to randomly cruise around and just check the place out. So this time I decided to rent a motorcycle and go it alone.

The cheapest place to rent motorcycles is in the neighborhood of weather station hill (AKA backpacker hill). This is kind of a real shithole neighborhood west and outside of downtown populated by annoying European backpackers. There are about half a dozen places renting the umbiguous Honda Dream 110cc motor scooters for a mere $3US a day. I just picked the first one that had fairly new looking bikes. Terms are simple. $3 a day, hand over your passport and if you want it back you better bring the motorcycle back.

First stop, head down town and put some gas in it. They give it to you almost empty. There is a Shell station or a modern Caltex station. Gas is relatively expensive in Cambodia but a liter should be enough to last you a while. I put in two liters for $1.50 which I barely used much of and I'm sure they siphoned off the excess after I brought it back before they gave it to the next customer. Full service of course. If you do ever run out of gas, all up and down the roads you will see vendors with soda bottles full of gasoline sitting out on tables for sell.

Traffic is not to bad in Sihanoukville as far as Cambodia goes. It get's a little hairy downtown but was manageable. They drive or the correct (right hand) side of the road 'most' of the time so it's not like Thailand where you have to get used to left hand driving. Keep to the far right so cars can easily pass and always look over your shoulder to see what's coming up behind you. Many intersections are not controlled so it's every man for himself at some busy intersections. Often if making a left turn at a busy intersection it is best to cross traffic before the intersection and drive on the wrong side of the road until you are around the corner and then cross back over again to the correct side of the road later.

Traffic laws. Only one big one. You will be stopped and pay a fine for driving with your head light on during daytime. Never mind that it is safer since it makes you more easily seen. It's illegal and they enforce it. I saw two stop signs out by the port but I never saw one person even slow down for them so I assume you can safely disregard any traffic signs. Drivers licence's are irrelevant. If stopped, just offer a dollar or two to the cop to settle whatever the hell it is you did. Real fines are next to nothing so paying off the cop to forget about the whole thing should not be an expensive proposition.

Accidents are best avoided but if you are in one and it is really not your fault, you can get a fair, legitimate, accident investigation from the police by paying $10-$20 to the police for their time and expense of conducting the investigation. It is not a case of where the foreigner is automatically at fault. Just that police investigations are not free. Of course it IS automatically your fault if someone well connected runs into you. Medical care in Sihanoukville looks truly frightening though so better just ride careful.

Motorcycle theft is common and if it gets stolen, you pay. Most bars and restaurants are open air so ride up almost into the place and park it where you can see it. Many clubs as well as the beaches have security who will issue you a receipt and guard your bike while you are inside or at the beach. Tip the guys 1000 Rial or so. The hotel I stayed at had 24 hour security so no problems there but if you stay at a cheap guest house or something, ask to park it in the lobby or something at night. At chicken village pull up almost into the house within sight of mamasan while you are in the room with her ladies. Mamasan won't let anyone mess with your bike during your session.

Sihanoukville has some areas that are dangerous at night. Basically anywhere deserted and dark. Avoid these areas entirely at night even if it means taking an awkward route. Violent robberies have been known to happen. Ride fast through lightly populated areas like the road from the port to downtown late at night and don't stop for anything. Most violent crime in Cambodia occurs out of the sight of the public so the main thing to remember is avoid deserted streets. Ride them during the day and try to picture what it will be like at night before you do any late night riding. Within Chicken village looks kind of scarry at night but there are allot of people around so I think it's pretty safe there if you are looking for late night companionship. I was out till 2AM and made runs from the port to downtown and back and to the hotel a number of times with no major problems. Just be aware there are some bad things lurking on dark deserted streets.

was there nov 2007 can not rent bikes , and motor drivers are asking larg amounts for short runs now

This is a bad trend. A very bad trend. They stopped renting motos in Siem Reep around five years ago. You can't move in that town without the motodops getting a cut.

But you can rent electric bicycles. Which is bascically a slow moving scooter. When out of juice though foot power comes into play. But if you get back to hotel that rents them, They will give you a new one fully charge.

Nutbuster, so you can go back to the rental place to get a new battery or your scooter recharged.