MMDA to start e-bike, e-trike prohibition on national roads next month

MANILA: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will start to implement the prohibition of electric bicycles (e-bikes), tricycles (both electrified and internal combustion engine-powered) pedicabs, pushcarts, and kuligligs on national roads next month.

According to the agency, the aforementioned vehicles will no longer be allowed to use national roads, circumferential roads, and radial roads in Metro Manila beginning April 15.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Romando Artes said that the prohibition was not new, citing laws and other issuances relevant to the regulation.

The MMDA regulation, Artes said, has incorporated the Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circulars 2020-036 and 2023-195 as well as the Land Transportation Office Administrative Order No. 2021-039.

“We will just enforce this prohibition because of the increasing number of accidents involving e-bikes, e-trikes, and e-scooters. We will not wait for these figures to go higher and the situation to worsen,” he said.

Data from the MMDA Road Safety Unit showed that in Metro Manila, a total of 907 road crashes involving e-bike, e-trike, and e-scooter were recorded last year — nearly tripling the 309 accidents listed in 2019.

The release of the implementing rules and regulations, Artes noted, will be one to two weeks prior to the target implementation date and will take into consideration the position papers to be submitted by the stakeholders.

Further, Artes claimed that stakeholders have understood that the regulation does not mean total ban of their electric light vehicles but rather a safety measure on their part.

He explained that the chance of fatality is high if e-bike, e-trike, and e-scooter users will traverse roads with vehicles driving at 60-80 kilometer per hour, since their vehicles are open and wearing a helmet is not required.

Earlier, the MMDA identified the roads where the ban shall be enforced. They are:

• Recto Avenue
• President Quirino Avenue
• Araneta Avenue
• Epifanio delos Santos Avenue
• Katipunan/CP Garcia
• Southeast Metro Manila Expressway
• Roxas Boulevard
• Taft Avenue
• Osmena Highway (South Superhighway)
• Shaw Boulevard
• R5: Ortigas Avenue
• Magsaysay Boulevard/Aurora Boulevard
• Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue
• Andres Bonifacio Avenue
• Rizal Avenue
• Del Pan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway
• Elliptical Road
• Mindanao Avenue
• Marcos Highway

Those who will violate are set to face a P2,500-fine. On the other hand, vehicle impoundment awaits those who will fail to present their driver’s license upon apprehension.

Photos from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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