MMDA, tinitingnan ang mas mabigat na alituntunin sa e-bikes, e-scooters

SINABI ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) na tinitingnan nito na higpitan ang alituntunin o patakaran sa paggamit ng  e-bikes at e-scooters kasunod ng napaulat na mga insidente ngayong taon.

Ayon kay Victor Nuñez, pinuno ng traffic discipline office for enforcement ng MMDA, medyo maluwag kasi ang ahensiya sa pagpapatupad ng  Land Transportation Office’s Administrative Order 2021-039 noong nakaraang taon sa gitna ng binawasang kapasidad sa  public transit.

“But now since the mass public transport is back to 100 percent capacity and face-to-face class is about to resume in a couple of weeks, we know that many students might use these e-bikes and e-scooters. We just want to promote road safety,” ayon kay Nuñez.

Sa ilalim ng  AO 2021-039, ang e-vehicles na may maximum speed na 50 kilometers per hour ay  required  na magparehistro sa  ilalim ng LTO.

“Users must also bring their driver’s license should they operate this type of vehicle,” dagdag na pahayag ni Nuñez sabay sabing “The road operation of e-vehicles and e-scooters and e-bikes… must be limited to bicycle lanes, barangay roads, and they must always give the right of way to the incoming traffic. They’re not allowed to pass through in the middle of major thoroughfares.”

“E-bikes and e-scooters are allowed to pass national roads for purposes of crossing only,” aniya pa rin.

Noong nakaraang taon, nakapagtala ang MMDA ng 346 road crashes na  kinasangkutan ng e-vehicles sa kahabaan ng mga pangunahing lansangan sa  capital region.

Ngayong taon, mayroong 82 road crashes ang sangkot ang e-vehicles na naitala mula Enero hanggang Mayo.

Sinabi pa ni Nuñez na tinanggihan ng  MMDA  ang panukalang i-ban ang paggamit ng  e-vehicles sa gitna ng  pagtaas ng presyo ng langis.

“The Department of Transportation has expanded the bike lane network in parts of the country,” ayon kay Nuñez.

“We don’t want to really ban this type of vehicle. We only ask for proper discipline and being cautious really on the use of e-vehicles and to know their road limitations,” aniya pa rin. (Daris Jose)