THE Metro Manila Council yesterday said it will release guidelines on light electric vehicles to enlighten the public on what type of e-bikes and e-trikes are required to have a driver’s license and which of them could be used on the bike lane before the April 15 start of the policy barring them on national roads in Metro Manila.
The MMC, whose members are the 17 Metro mayors, is the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the body tasked to implement the prohibition.
“Before we implement the ban, we need to align which types of e-vehicles are required to have driver’s licenses,” San Juan City Mayor and MMC president Francis Zamora said in a radio interview, adding the Land Transportation Office has different categories regarding which vehicles require driver’s licenses.
“There are many classifications of e-bikes and e-trikes that we need to harmonize,” he added.
Zamora said the guidelines would also answer what types of e-vehicles could be used on the bike lane.
Earlier, the MMDA said the prohibition on e-bikes and e-trikes plying EDSA and other national roads in Metro Manila will start on April 15. Violators will be meted a P2,500 fine.
However, it is not yet clear if this would apply to all types of electric vehicles such as e-kick scooters.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said last Tuesday that only pedal-assisted bikes would be allowed to use the bike lanes.
Zamora said the guideline would help clear this and prevent confusion.
“We will release the guideline so as to prevent confusion, so that there will be no confusion,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Mandaluyong City government started implementing the Single Ticketing System (STS) in the city last March 11.
Mayor Ben Abalos Sr. has distributed 100 body cameras that traffic enforcers would use for the ticketing system. — With Christian Oineza
