E-bike, e-trike users lament loss of savings, profits with MMDA ban on nat'l roads

E-bike and e-trike users who rely on the said small electric vehicles for their commute and even businesses are concerned about the savings and profits they are expected to lose starting next week.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," the ban on e-bikes, e-tricycles, e-scooters, pushcarts, tricycles, pedicabs, and “kuliglig” on national roads will be implemented starting Monday, April 15, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will start making apprehensions.

“‘Yung apo ko sa Roces Elementary School. Biruin mo P80 ang one way tricycle, e samantalang andito na 'to. Malaking tipid,” said e-trike owner Gloria Batasan.

(My grandchild is studying at Roces Elementary School. Tricycle fare is P80 one way but we already have this. We can save on fares.)

“Instead na makain o sa iba andun sa pamasahe,” she added. 

(Instead of buying food and spending on other expenses, our money will just go to fares.)

The MMDA said it initiated the regulation of e-vehicles as they posed a risk to the lives of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

According to the MMDA, a total of four people died due to road crash incidents involving e-bikes in 2023. Also, 436 were injured and 468 properties were damaged.

Violators will be penalized with a P2,500 fine, according to the MMDA.

Those driving e-bikes and e-trikes will also be required to secure a license. An e-vehicle driven by a person without a shall be impounded.

Artes said the regulation requiring driver’s license and registration will be covered in a separate issuance by the Land and Transportation Office.

Last month, the MMDA announced the ban on e-bikes, e-trikes, and tricycles on major roads of the National Capital Region. 

According to the MMDA, the national roads covered by the ban are the following: 

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

—Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News