Electric tricycles to be banned in Manila

MANILA: Isko Moreno, the mayor of Manila believes that E-trikes in the city are responsible for creating chaos and affect the traffic quite a lot. During a meeting with the Metro Manila Council that transpired on 25 July 2019, the new mayor of Manila proposed to ban electric tricycles in the city.

Since the E-trikes do not adhere to the conventional norms, the MMDA Chairman, Danilo Lim, urged the mayor to have a look into the problems caused by these electric tricycles on road. Moreover, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) informed the mayor that the government refers to these E-trikes as toys.

What further makes handling of the E-trikes difficult is that these vehicles fall in the golf-carts and pocket bikes category. This increases the troubles for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the management of public transport becomes complicated. Moving on, Isko Moreno advised the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to put the promotion and selling of the E-trikes on hold until the government comes up with a clear enough set of guidelines for the E-trikes. The mayor also wants the electric tricycles to have a label that says “not for public transport” as soon as they come off of the production line.

Mayor Isko Moreno's statements were equally supported by Edwin Olivarez, who is the mayor of Paranaque City. Olivarez also raised concerns about the unregistered E-trikes and government not having laid down policies and regulations for the E-trikes. While Mayor Moreno is planning to ban the E-trikes in Manila city, the emission-free transport vehicles were bought in the city by the previous mayor Joseph Estrada. Capable of accommodating seven passengers, the E-trikes in the Manila travel on a prescribed route and make predefined stops. The tricycles also accept electronic payment for a hassle-free travel experience. What are your thoughts on the move? Don’t you think it would be a step backward? We hope for the mayor to coin a set of policies and regulations for the E-trikes sooner than later.