Why did it take so long for the Metro Manila Council to pass a resolution prohibiting e-bikes and e-trikes on national roads?
After all, it’s been many years since these vehicles made an appearance in the metropolis and other urban centers.
They competed with faster vehicles for precious road space, posing a grave risk to life and limb for their drivers and passengers alike, not to mention contributing to already horrible traffic congestion in the National Capital Region.
Nevertheless, we welcome the belated MMC decision as this would definitely alleviate the heavy traffic situation in NCR.
MMDA Regulation 24-022 series of 2024 states the traversing of e-vehicles, such as e-bikes and e-trikes, as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, and kuligligs on national roads, circumferential and radial roads in Metro Manila will be prohibited.
Violators of the resolution will face a P2,500 fine.
The hefty fine—possibly higher than the average income derived from daily operation of these vehicles—will no doubt discourage drivers from using main roads already choking from other big vehicles such as traditional and modern jeepneys, buses and container vans.
The agency will also require e-trike and e-bike drivers to have driver’s licenses. If the user does not have a driver’s license, the e-vehicle will be immediately impounded.
“Due to the proliferation of e-vehicles, the MMC deemed it imperative to regulate and penalize those who will traverse the national roads using such means of transportation,” MMDA chief Romando Artes explained.
The primary consideration in passing the resolution is concern for the safety, not just of e-vehicle users, but of other motorists as well.
“We are not totally banning the use of e-vehicles; we just want to regulate them since they have caused traffic and road crash incidents,” he emphasized.
With e-bikes, e-trikes and similar vehicles now relegated to secondary roads, we can expect fewer accidents involving these types of vehicles that are slow-moving and lack basic safety features.
While at this, to rationalize traffic flow in such major thoroughfares such as EDSA and Commonwealth, perhaps the MMDA should also consider segregating motorcycles in a designated lane.
What is happening in these major roads is that motorcycles abruptly change lanes without due regard for their own safety, just so they can get to their destinations faster.
Motorcycle riders delivering goods from online stores hurrying to cover as much ground as possible on a daily basis often do this.
It is time to rationalize traffic in Metro Manila amid a growing population and the exponential growth of vehicles of all kinds traversing limited road space. Can the MMDA hack it?
We really hope so.