The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority began apprehending motorcycle riders using exclusive bike lanes on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), but did not issue tickets yet to fine violators.
“We will not issue tickets yet,” MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said in a television interview.
“We still haven’t finalized the policy on how we will go about this.
We’ll consult our stakeholders,” he said.
This was contrary to MMDA’s statement on Sunday that violators will be slapped with a P1,000 fine.
“Starting, August 21, motorcycles using bicycle lanes on EDSA will be apprehended. The violation will be disregarding traffic signs, which has a corresponding P1,000 fine,” MMDA said.
“A bike lane is not a fast lane for motorcycles,” the agency added.
Artes, however, said that the MMDA can only recommend but it is the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that will decide on the policy.
From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday, which was a non-working holiday, MMDA officials said they apprehended at least 30 motorcycle riders inside bike lanes.
The MMDA said it expects more apprehensions on Tuesday when workers report for duty.