The Metro Manila Development Authority has announced it will begin on Monday the one-week dry run activity on the implementation of High Occupancy Vehicle lane, a traffic scheme formulated to encourage motorists to engage in ride-sharing and further improve traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said the dry run for HOV special lane located at the fifth and leftmost lane along the 24-kilometer highway was approved by members of the Metro Manila Council during a meeting with agency officials last Dec. 5.
The MMC, composed of 17 mayors and other local government officials in the National Capital Region, is the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA.
Under the new scheme, only drivers with two passengers or more will be accorded the privilege to pass through the HOV Lane. Motorcycle riders can also use the lane aside from the motorcycle lane in the fourth lane.
Private car drivers with no companions can still use the motorcycle lane (2nd) and third lane from the Metro Railway Transit -3 (MRT-3) wall.
The MMDA hinted of another “incentive” if the proposed HOV lane will be proven effective.
Lim said that should the HOV measure be implemented, violators will be slapped with citation ticket with P500 fine for disregarding traffic sign.
Aside from ground apprehension, the MMDA will also make use of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras under the no contact apprehension policy.
The new scheme would cover the whole stretch of EDSA from Balintawak, Quezon City to Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City which has five lanes: two are designated for public utility vehicles or yellow lanes, while three are designated for private vehicles and motorcycle riders.
The MMDA is encouraging motorists to engage in ride sharing to further ease traffic in the metropolis.
MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos said ride sharing has benefits because it would not only result in less traffic along EDSA and other major thoroughfares but would also cut air pollution and promote carpooling.
Meanwhile, the planned motorcycle ban on EDSA drew negative reactions from riders and netizens.
“Stupidest idea from the brightest of this administration,” said Ton de la Cruz.
“That too discriminate motorcycle riders,” said Rick Malvar.
Gary Ondoy said “It’s the bus (and) car to be banned instead. Much better let people used bikes & motorcycle. Less pollution & people enjoy the ride & see the beauty of metropolis.”
“All vehicles should be allowed to pass, even trucks! We only lack the discipline to limit the regulated number of tricycle, buses and jeeps in the cities,” added Emma Paterson.
Mayors in Metro Manila floated the idea and asked the MMDA to conduct a study about the possibility of the ban as part of the agency’s vehicle reduction measure on Edsa.
MMDA supervising officer for operations Edison Nebrija said the local executives discussed the matter with the MMDA during their meeting at the agency’s main office in Makati City last week.
Nebrija said prohibiting motorcycles would also be good in preventing road accidents involving motorcycle riders.
But he added that they have to weigh in all the possible effects in banning the motorcycles on Edsa and to put a comprehensive study on it especially that they have allotted a motorcycle lane on the road.
“We don’t want to put our biases and let our engineers study it first. We have to get the sentiments of the motorcycle riders,” Nebrija said.
Should motorcycles be banned on Edsa, Nebrija said bikers can look for alternate routes.
The number of vehicular accidents in the National Capital Region rose in 2016 by 13,707 to 109,322 from the 95,615 the previous year, and reckless motorcycle riding remains the top cause of deaths and injuries on streets in the metropolis.
Based on the data collated by the MMDA through its 2016 Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) program, motorcycles have the “highest fatality accident rate” with 218 the total number of deaths, followed by trucks (103) and private cars (98).
The records also stated that 23,105 motorcycles were involved in the road accidents last year.
Motorcycles also topped the list of vehicles with the most number of injuries at 11,456 followed by cars (7,544) and public utility jeepneys (1,922).
MMRAS, a program created by the MMDA aimed at improving road management in the metropolis, recorded 519 deaths and 17, 103 injuries involving motorcycles in 2015.
