MMC to release guidelines before start of e-bikes, e-trikes ban

Electric tricycles, or e-trikes, and other types of light electric vehicles will soon be prohibited on major roads of Metro Manila. (MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) will release guidelines on the use of light electric vehicles before the ban on e-bikes and e-trikes on major thoroughfares takes effect on April 15.

According to MMC president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora,  the guidelines would address several questions, including whether e-bikes and e-trikes operators need driver’s licenses when plying public roads in Metro Manila.

The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors of Metro Manila, is one of the governing boards and policymakers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the agency that will implement the ban.

READ: MMC passes resolution banning e-bikes on major roads

Zamora added that the question of which electric vehicle units could use the bike lanes would also be answered.

Many classifications

“There are many classifications of e-bikes and e-trikes. These are what we want to harmonize,” Zamora stressed in an interview on Wednesday over at Radyo 630, a commercial news/talk radio station.

“Part of this time that we are asking for before we implement [the ban] is to align which types of e-vehicles are required to have driver’s license (to drive). Because the LTO [Land Transportation Office] has different categories regarding which vehicles would require licenses to drive. All of these are items that we are fleshing out,” he further said.

On February 28, MMC passed a resolution banning e-bikes and e-trikes on Metro Manila’s national, circumferential, and radial roads.

This was followed by an MMDA announcement on March 11 wherein violators would be fined P2,500 and their units be impounded if the operator could not present a driver’s license.

However, questions arose on whether this policy would apply to all kinds of light electric vehicles, such as e-kick scooters, e-bikes, and e-trikes.

Only ‘pedal-assist’ bikes

In a recent press conference, MMDA Acting Chair Don Artes also said that only “pedal-assist” bicycles would be allowed on the bike lanes.

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

More confusion arose about whether e-bikes could use bike lanes only if they were being pedaled. Another issue raised was how light electric vehicle operators could drive in cities without bike lanes.

Zamora added that the MMDA will release the final guidelines “so that there wouldn’t be any confusion.”