Starting April 15, Metro Manila traffic enforcers will start apprehending e-bikes and e-trikes that will be caught travelling along major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Monday, March 11.
At least 19 major thoroughfares were already identified by the MMDA as off-limits to e-bikes and e-trikes but local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila can still add more roads based on the ordinances that they would approve.
The initial MMDA list are C1: Recto Avenue; C2: Pres. Quirino Avenue; C3: Araneta Avenue; C4: EDSA; C5: Katipunan/CP Garcia; C6: Southeast Metro Manila Expressway; R1: Roxas Boulevard; R2: Taft Avenue; R3: Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway); R4: Shaw Boulevard; R5: Ortigas Avenue; R6: Magsaysay Blvd./Aurora Blvd; R7: Quezon Ave./Commonwealth Ave; R8: A. Bonifacio Ave.; R9: Rizal Ave.; R10: Del Pan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway; Elliptical Road; Mindanao Avenue; and Marcos Highway.
These are the major thoroughfares that are under the jurisdiction of the MMDA.
MMDA chairman Don Artes said the April 15 date would be an ideal start of the enforcement as it would give them more time to conduct aggressive information dissemination drives, especially to e-bikes and e-trikes owners and users.
The enforcement against e-bikes and e-trikes is based on the Metro Manila Council (MMC) Resolution 2024-022 that was approved by all NCR mayors in a bid to regulate the e-vehicles amid mounting concerns on road safety.
“The IRR (implementing Rules and Regulations) of the MMC Resolution will be released before April 15, and before April 15 we want to have a minimum of 15 days before effectivity for information drive before we implement this,” said Artes.
He explained that the April 15 date is what was stipulated in the MMC Resolution as the start of the implementation.
The MMDA held on Monday a consultation with various stakeholders in connection with the MMC Resolution and it was during the dialogue that various considerations were raised by some stakeholders.
One of that considerations, according to Artes, is the classification of the e-bikes and e-trikes and the areas where they will still be allowed.
For instance, pedal-assist e-bikes will still be allowed on major thoroughfares provided that they stay on the designated bike lanes.
The MMC and the MMDA agreed to regulate e-bikes and e-trikes amid the rising cases of road accidents in the past few years.
From around 500 in 2022 for instance, Artes said the number of road accidents involving e-bikes and e-trikes was at 900 cases last year—two riders were killed.
Not new
Amid the complaints of some groups that e-vehicles are being singled out, Artes explained that the enforcement on e-bikes and e-trikes is not something new since a memorandum was already issued on its prohibition on national roads and other major thoroughfares in 2020.
He said this was reiterated by then Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos last year.
Artes said they are not even prohibiting the ownership of the e-bikes and e-trikes since there is an existing law that supports the use of e-vehicles.
What they are after, according to Artes, is for the regulation because aside from the road accidents, some e-trikes owners are even allowing minors to drive them along major thoroughfares.
Impounding
If the rider of e-bikes and e-trikes are driver’s license holders, Artes said they would only issue citation tickets.
But if the e-trikes are not registered and the rider is not a driver’s license holder, he said that is the only time that they would impound them.
Artes said they expect the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to come up with regulations soon.
Consultation continues
The LTO is currently holding a series of dialogues on at least two major issues—on whether or not all e-bikes and e-trikes must be registered, and whether or not riders of e-bikes and e-trikes must be compelled to have a driver’s license.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said the dialogues and consultations with as many stakeholders are aimed at coming up with appropriate and lawful guidelines amid the mounting concerns on e-bikes and e-trikes.
“We share the concerns raised by motorists on the aspect of road safety involving the presence of e-bikes and e-trikes on national roads and even on major thoroughfares,” said Mendoza.
“In as much as we want to set the rules for them, there are various factors that must be considered like an existing law that promotes their ownership and use, as well as the programs and projects by local government units using these e-vehicles for their constituents,” he added.