Only ‘pedal-assist’ bicycles to be allowed on bike lanes — MMDA

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Starting April 15, only “pedal-assist” bicycles will be allowed to use bicycle / bike lanes in designated national roads in Metro Manila.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Romando Artes made the clarification as he announced the date of full implementation of the e-bike prohibition on national roads.

“Yung mga bikes na ia-allow sa bikes lanes ay classified pa rin na biskleta — meaning pedal assist — hindi pwede ‘yung tumatakbo on its own,” Artes said in a press briefing.

(The bikes that will be allowed in the bike lanes are those still classified as bicycles, that is, pedal assist, not those that could not run on its own.)

Artes said this will also be clarified in the new measure’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR), which will be published before April 15.

He also stressed that this measure will be done for the safety of cyclists.

Last year, however, the MMDA said it conducted a preliminary study on the possibility of implementing road sharing of the bike lane for bicycles and motorcycles as they noted that the lanes are underutilized.