Makati City now allows e-bikes, e-scooters in Central Business District

Makati City reminds the users of electric vehicles to stay within the designated lanes “for their own safety and that of other motor vehicles and pedestrians.” PHOTO/Make It Makati Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — The city of Makati on Tuesday said that users of electric scooters and electric bicycles may now use the designated bike lanes along the city’s Central Business District (CBD).

This developed after Makati City was called out by advocates of personal mobility devices (PMD) for banning e-scooters and e-bikes to pass through CBD even along the designated bike lanes.

READ: E-scooter, e-bike advocates slam traffic unit for banning riders amid pandemic, transport lack

“Recognizing the need for alternative modes of transportation during the pandemic and ensuring the safety of road users, the Makati Central Estate Association (MACEA) in coordination with Makati Parking Authority (MAPA) would like to inform users of personal mobility scooters, electric kick scooters, and electric mopeds that they may now operate these within the designated bike lanes in the [CBD],” the city government of Makati said through its official Facebook page.

The city then reminded the users of electric vehicles to stay within the designated lanes “for their own safety and that of other motor vehicles and pedestrians.”

The issue first drew attention when an online petition calling on Makati authorities to allow the use of electronic kick scooters inside CBD gained traction, garnering over 1,400 signatures overnight.

READ: Online petition seeks authorities’ nod for use of e-scooters inside Makati CBD

E-bike and e-scooter advocate Edmundo Tambunting Ongsiako posted a statement on an electric bikers group in the country following an incident where e-scooter users were stopped along Ayala CBD. As a result of the incident, a petition was launched urging the Makati Parking Authority (MAPA) Traffic Management, which manages the area, to allow electric personal mobility devices (PMD) such as e-scooters and e-bikes again.

“The popularity of e-vehicles increased during the pandemic astronomically […] because people do not like to use the public transport. Even if there is social distancing in the public, in the jeepney, it’s still too close,” he said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Monday night.

“Not only enclosed, you’re still close to the person next to you even if you put those dividers, you’re still close […] so people are opting towards this,” he added.