The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it would shelve its proposal to have a shared lane for bicycles and motorcycles along EDSA.
This was after a meeting between motorcycle riders and cyclists’ groups failed to reach a consensus, prompting the MMDA to study other possible options.
“Nobody agreed. We have to study other available options,” MMDA chair
Romando Artes said. “As we speak, a lot of motorcycles enter exclusive bike lanes. If we go strict on them, we get criticized.”
Among the possible alternatives MMDA plans to pursue is the prospect of an elevated walkway or bike lane, which also aims to ease traffic congestion on EDSA.
Artes earlier said some 160,000 motorcycles ply EDSA daily, with a significant number of them using bike lanes.
The MMDA recently apprehended about 1,500 erring motorists on bike lanes.
The MMDA earlier led a consultation with groups of motorcyclists and bicyclists on the possible lane-sharing plan.
The meeting, initiated by the MMDA chief, included representatives from various organizations, including lawyer Raymond Fortun, and members and officials of Move as One Coalition, Motorcycle Rights Organization, and Alternative Mobility.
Artes said all suggestions and recommendations discussed in the meeting will be considered by his agency. The official assured that the MMDA will study it carefully and make sure that the safety of bicycle and motorcycle riders will not be sacrificed.
Also present at the consultation were representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Land Transportation Office, and Inter-Agency Council for Traffic.
Last week, hundreds of individuals were apprehended and have been warned during the second day of the reimplementation of the bicycle lane policy. No penalties were imposed against them, and were just reminded about the resumption of the policy.
The existing policy on the exclusivity of the bicycle lane was implemented over three years ago. Based on the policy, erring motorcycle riders will be fined P1,000 for disregarding traffic signs.
Artes admitted that there are some challenges, which include the huge number of motorcycles plying EDSA alone. “For now, we will only remind the motorcycle riders not to use the EDSA bicycle lane,” Artes said.
