MMDA to revive motorbike lanes

MANILA, Philippines - Beginning Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will revive motorcycle lanes on four major roads to address traffic in the metropolis, an official said yesterday.

MMDA officer-in-charge Tim Orbos told reporters that the motorcycle lanes will be revived on EDSA, C-5, Macapagal and Commonwealth Avenue, citing the big number of motorcycle riders on these roads.

The designated motorcycle lane is the fourth lane from the right sidewalk of the roads.

“They’re important because a greater number of our motorists are now using motorcycles, after private vehicles,” he said.

Orbos’ statement came shortly after he met with Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) officials yesterday.

He said the MMDA will hold 11-hour dry runs tomorrow and on Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Orbos said motorcycle riders will not be apprehended, but will just be informed of the lanes’ revival. Under Memorandum Circular 12-01 Series of 2012, erring motorcycle riders will be fined P500.

MMDA enforcers and MCPF members will ensure that motorcycle riders wear the “proper gear” and their units have spare parts, he said. 

Then MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino introduced the motorcycle lanes in 2012, but the policy was not strictly enforced after his stint.

The memorandum states that motorcycle lanes are “non-exclusive” to motorcycle riders, which means that private vehicles are also allowed to use it.

It also states that motorcycle riders will be allowed to deviate from the motorcycle lanes when making a u-turn at authorized intersections and u-turn slots.

The MMDA’s memorandum circular was not imposed to address the traffic only, but to reduce the number of fatal road crashes involving motorcycles along the major thoroughfares. 

Based on the MMDA’s data, it showed that motorcycles figure in 30 out of 265 accidents recorded per day.