A global transport service company has asked the government to allow GrabBike as a new mode of public transportation to solve traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“GrabBike is eager to restart its full operations to help both the commuters and the bikers. We have always pushed forward solutions that will help solve traffic congestion while providing the public with safer modes of transportation,” Grab country marketing head Khirz Lim said.
Lim said the company was committed to providing safe transportation to passengers.
“We have stringent processes in place to make sure our high safety standards are met by our bikers. Every GrabBiker and passenger will have personal protective equipment like helmets and facemarks to make sure they operate safely. In addition to the equipment, all rides are ensured for both bikers and passengers,” Lim said.
Lim also said the company was inviting the public to support GrabBikers’ campaign for safe, reliable and convenient motorcycle transport by trying GrabBike for free with the use of the promo code ‘Freedom.’
Grab’s statement came after the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board issued an order stopping the use of bikes and motorcycles as a mode of public transportation.
Grab is only accredited by the government to offer transport network vehicles using a digital platform technology pursuant to Department Order No. 2015-011.
The order did not cover the operation of a GrabBike through the use of an Internet-based technology platform to facilitate a pre-arranged transportation for passengers using bikes or motorcycles.
LTFRB suspended the offering of bikes and motorcycles as public transportation mode due to safety issues.
According to the World Health Organization’s 2015 road safety report, 1.25 million people died globally due to road accidents, with motorcyclists comprising 23 percent of deaths.
The WHO report also said that more than half or 53 percent of those who died in road accidents in the Philippines were motorcycle riders.
Despite the implementation of the helmet law in the country, motorcycles have the highest fatality accident rate in Metro Manila from January to November 2015, according to statistics compiled by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s Metro Manila accident recording and analysis system database.
The MMARAS database also showed that of the 696 road fatalities recorded in that period, 236 were due to motorcycle accidents.
The database also recorded a total of 166,883 vehicles involved in road accidents in Metro Manila, with motorcycles coming in second with 18,482, next to private cars (81,837).