‘E’ FOR EXCLUDED Electric tricycles, or e-trikes, and other unregulated electric vehicles like these seen near SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City are prohibited on major roads in the National Capital Region, based on a resolution approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Wednesday. —photo by Marianne Bermudez
MANILA, Philippines — Drivers of electric bikes (e-bikes), electric tricycles (e-trikes) and other light vehicles who are caught using main roads will be penalized starting on May 27, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said after it extended by another week the grace period for the strict implementation of its new policy.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier asked the MMDA to waive the penalties for violators until May 18 and to inform for now the drivers of e-vehicles such as e-bikes and e-trikes, as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts and “kuliglig” (tractor-pulled vehicles) that they should not pass through national, circumferential and radial roads in Metro Manila.
READ: MMDA reworks ban on e-bikes
“We will still be not issuing violation tickets this week but we reiterate that they are still prohibited on major roads,” MMDA acting Chair Don Artes said in a press briefing on Monday.
“This one-week extension will allow owners and drivers of e-bikes, e-trikes and other similar light vehicles to comply with either registration [of their vehicles] or getting a driver’s license,” he added.
Affected roads
Those caught driving without a license or vehicle registration papers will have their vehicles impounded starting Monday. Violators also face a fine of P2,500.
The ban will be enforced on the following Metro Manila roads, which are under the jurisdiction of the MMDA: Recto Avenue, President Quirino Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Edsa, Katipunan/CP Garcia Avenue (C5), Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (C6), Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, Osmeña Highway, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Rizal Avenue, Del Pan/Marcos Highway (Mel Lopez Boulevard)/McArthur Highway (R-10), Elliptical Road, Mindanao Avenue and Marcos Highway (Marikina City).
Light electric vehicles (such as pedal-assist e-bikes, e-scooters and similar vehicles weighing less than 50 kilograms) can still use these major roads if they are crossing or inside established bike lanes.
However, the MMDA said the e-vehicles must yield to all incoming traffic if they cross any roads covered by the ban.
Tricycles are also allowed to traverse these roads for up to a distance of 500 meters if their purpose is to enter a U-turn slot to get to the other side.