The increasing volume of motorcycle riders using EDSA has prompted the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider adding another motorcycle lane on the country’s busiest road that now represents the worsening traffic problems in Metro Manila.
Citing a recent study, DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said there are around 170,000 motorcycles that use EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) and this figure is what makes government agencies study the viability of having another motorcycle lane.
“We are looking at the portion beside the bicycle lane as another motorcycle lane because right now, all the lanes are being occupied by motorcycles," said Bautista.
“We're working with MMDA on how we can improve the traffic situation relating to motorcycles," he added.
Bautista said the DOTr already has initial discussions with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on having a dedicated lane for motorcycles along the major thoroughfare.
Currently, there is an existing EDSA Motorcycle Lane—the fourth lane from the right sidewalk and spans the entire length of EDSA, from Monumento, Caloocan City to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, and vice versa.
But this EDSA Motorcycle Lane is not exclusive to motorcycles as private vehicles are also allowed to use it.
Based on the plan of the DOTr, the new motorcycle lane will be exclusive to motorcycles in order for the riders not to intrude on the other lanes intended for private vehicles.
Bautista said the planned second motorcycle lane along EDSA also aims to address the economic cost of traffic, citing the study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2012 which revealed that the economic cost of traffic is P2.4 billion a day in Metro Manila.
In 2017, the economic cost reached P3.5 billion a day, while the latest study in 2022 indicated the economic losses from traffic is P4.9 billion a day.
JICA projected this to balloon to P9 billion a day in 2030.
"The economic cost (of traffic) includes additional fuel, additional cost, and this is the lost opportunity for growth,” said Bautista.
The additional motorcycle lane is also eyed as another road safety measure for motorcycle riders amid the increasing number of accidents involving motorcycle riders.