Ban on e-trikes strictly enforced starting today

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would strictly enforce a ban on light electric vehicles such as tricycles and bicycles starting today, acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said yesterday.

Violators will be issued traffic violation tickets upon apprehension, he said.

“We deferred by two days just for consideration and also for information dissemination,” Artes said in Filipino in an interview over dzRH.

Artes clarified that e-bikes and e-trikes without licenses and registrations would be impounded.

He emphasized that without proper documentation, penalties cannot be imposed, making impoundment necessary.

The ban on light e-vehicles applies only to selected roads deemed dangerous or prone to traffic congestion, Artes said.

Asked about the registration procedure, he said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) handles it and has issued guidelines on the process.

The LTO will also determine the placement of license plates.

Artes clarified that local government units (LGUs) have authority over roads not included in the list of prohibited routes.

“It is up to the LGUs to decide if e-bikes and e-trikes will be allowed or not in routes that are not on our list based on the LGU’s ordinance,” he said.

The ban covers Recto Avenue, President Quirino Avenue, Araneta Avenue, EDSA, Katipunan/ C.P. Garcia, Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, Osmeña Highway or South Super Highway, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard/ Aurora Boulevard, Quezon Avenue/ Commonwealth Avenue, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Rizal Avenue, Del Pan/Marcos Highway/ McArthur Highway, Elliptical Road, Mindanao Avenue, Marcos Highway, Boni Avenue and España Boulevard.

Concerning impounded vehicles, Artes said that these can be reclaimed upon payment of penalties. The fine for e-bikes and e-trikes is set at P2,500.

The MMDA reported that at least 55 tricycles, pushcarts or carts, pedicabs, crickets, e-bikes, e-trikes and light electric vehicles that passed through national roads, circumferential roads, radial roads and areas covered or under the jurisdiction of the MMDA were apprehended during the ban’s dry run yesterday.

The MMDA earlier said among the exemptions to the ban are when the identified vehicles are crossing these major roads, tricycles traveling no more than 500 meters going to or coming from a U-turn slot to cross to the other side and light e-vehicles traveling on bike lanes on covered roads, pursuant to Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Act.