E-bikes, e-trikes banned on nat’l roads starting April

REGULATING E-TRIKES. Electronic tricycles (e-trikes) ply the streets of Tondo, Manila on Thursday (Feb. 15, 2024). Concerned national government agencies and local government units have begun discussions on how to regulate the use of e-bikes and other unregistered electronic vehicles (e-vehicles) nationwide as they pose a “grave risk” to their drivers, other motorists, and pedestrians, and slow down the flow of traffic. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has approved a resolution to ban the use of e-bikes, e-trikes, and other electric motor vehicles on major roads across the National Capital Region (NCR) starting April.

During a press conference following an MMC meeting Wednesday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Don Artes said MMDA Regulation No. 24-022 series of 2024 would prohibit the use of e-vehicles as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, and “kuliglig” on national roads, circumferential and radial roads in NCR.

The policy will be implemented in April following an information and awareness campaign.

These areas where e-vehicles will be banned include:

C1: Recto Avenue
C2: Pres. Quirino Avenue
C3: Araneta Avenue
C4: EDSA
C5: Katipunan/CP Garcia
C6: Southeast Metro Manila Expressway
R1: Roxas Boulevard
R2: Taft Avenue
R3: SLEX
R4: Shaw Boulevard
R5: Ortigas Avenue
R6: Magsaysay Blvd./Aurora Blvd.
R7: Quezon Ave./Commonwealth Ave.
R8: A. Bonifacio Ave.
R9: Rizal Ave.
R10: Del Pan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway
Elliptical Road
Mindanao Avenue
Marcos Highway

“Due to the proliferation of e-vehicles, the MMC deemed it imperative to regulate and penalize those who will traverse the national roads using such means of transportation,” Artes said.

Violators of the e-vehicle ban will be fined PHP2,500.

The resolution also requires drivers of e-vehicles and tricycles to have a driver’s license.

“Those who cannot present their driver’s license upon apprehension shall be subject to impoundment of their respective vehicles,” he said.

The resolution, he said, was passed to ensure the safety of all motorists, not just users of e-vehicles.

“We are not totally banning the use of e-vehicles, we just want to regulate it since it has been a common cause of traffic and road crash incidents,” he said.

Artes said each local government unit (LGU) in NCR will also craft ordinances to ban e-vehicles in secondary and other inner roads under their jurisdiction.

In 2023 alone, MMDA data showed around 554 road crashes involving e-vehicles.

On Feb. 15, the MMC met with several national government officials, including those from the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and discussed regulating the use of e-bikes and other e-vehicles on roads nationwide.