Controversial EDSA Bike Lane Sharing proposal gets resounding NO from bicyclist, motorcycle rider groups

The proposal for the EDSA Bike Lane to be shared between bicycles and motorcycles has been met with a lot of resistance. Since the proposal was forwarded, both bicyclists and motorcycle riders expressed their opposition to the idea, and after the MMDA’s meeting with various stakeholders, the vote is in, and it is a resounding “NO”.

Safety concerns are the main factor for disagreement towards EDSA Bike Lane Sharing

Mmda Fine Motorcycle Edsa Bicycle Lane Bike Lane Inline 03 Min

Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority

The MMDA held a meeting with various groups and stakeholders that included the likes of the Move as One Coalition, Motorcycle Rights Organization, Motorcycle Philippines Federation, Angkas, Bikers for a Cause, and AltMobility PH, and all sides, thoughts, and suggestions were brought forward. We won’t even get to the nitty-gritty, and in a nutshell, MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said it best: “Walang nag-agree”. No one agreed.

This meeting was not an end-all-be-all for the EDSA Bike Lane Sharing proposal, though, as Artes said that further studies will be conducted as to whether this disagreement may be “premature” or early, and if the proposal is feasible and safe enough to be implemented. More talks will be conducted before a foregone conclusion, and these will be done “individually”, according to Artes.

Mmda Plan Share Edsa Bicycle Lane Bike Lane Main 00 Min

Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority

Among the reasons for the “No” votes were the safety of bicyclists who would use the EDSA Bike Lane. Motorcycles are bigger, heavier, and faster, and in the event that these motorized vehicles figure in an accident with a hapless “padyaker”, it won’t take much imagination to have an idea as to what can happen.

“Nagtanong kami sa mga ibang group at sa group namin, isa lang ang lumabas: Meron bang magkasama ang motorcycle lane at bicycle lane sa buong mundo? Wala, di ba? Talagang exclusive for bicycle lang. Hindi pwedeng pagsamahin. Bakit? [We asked our own group and others, only one sentiment came up: Are there any lanes in the world where motorcycles and bikes are in the same lane? None, right? There are only exclusive bicycle lanes. They can’t join. Why?] Because of safety,” said Atoy Sta. Cruz, director of Motorcycle Philippines Federation.

Mmda Fine Motorcycle Edsa Bicycle Lane Bike Lane Inline 01 Min

Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority

As to when the “individual” consultations and stakeholder meetings will take place, that is yet unknown, but judging on Atty. Artes’ words, it seems they are adamant about pursuing a clearer consensus for the EDSA Bike Lane Sharing proposal. For now, what motorists/motorcyclists need to know is that if they violate the exclusive EDSA Bike Lane, they will be apprehended 24 and slapped with a fine.

What are your thoughts on the proposal? If you were to be asked, would you say yay or nay?

Mikko Juangco
11 Comments
  1. NO CYCLISTS ON EDSA OR EXPRESSWAYS. Accident prone.

  2. NO CYCLISTS ON EDSA OR EXPRESSWAYS.

  3. Reply Avatar of Erwin "kamote na tinibuan ng Kamote"
    Erwin "kamote na tinibuan ng Kamote" September 5, 2023 at 5:21 am

    Erwin UMaran, ang bobo mo, may sariling lane ang motocycle, dati payan, ayaw nyong gamitin, gusto nga malaya sa kalye, KAMOTE ka nga tinibuan pa ng Kamote ang utak mo permanente na…. Kamote stupido, Gago

  4. Reply Avatar of Erwin "kamote na tinibuan ng Kamote"
    Erwin "kamote na tinibuan ng Kamote" September 5, 2023 at 5:19 am

    Erwin UMaran, ang bobo mo, may sariling lane ang motocycle, dati payan, ayaw nyong gamitin, gusto nga malaya sa kalye, KAMOTE na nga tinibuan pa ng Kamote ang utak mo permanente na…. Kamote stupido, Gago

  5. #SAMPA

    Sidewalk
    Access
    Mobility
    Platform
    Activation

    How about reactivating the sidewalks allocated for bike lanes along EDSA? We just need to build ramps to access sidewalks seamlessly. Of course there should be a speed limit of 6kph (walking speed) etc.

  6. Motorcycles are in the road mostly to engage in an economic activities, i.e. Angkas, Food Delivery, Messengers, Goods and Services deliveries, which helped millions of Filipinos economically, while bike riders are mostly leisurely cruising around demanding equality but not paying a single cent to the system, like license, registration, etc…! So, sige pahirapan natin yung mga mahihirap na riders struggling to make money….pwe! Then, the decisions makers comparing this endeavor to other countries, those countries are run by professionals, honest, competent,,,never mind 😡😡😡

    • Daming bobo sa comment section na to. Kaya nga may tax ang mga motorized vehicles kasi nga bayad yan sa pagkasirang gawa ng mga mabibigat na sasakyan. Pagmamalaki nyo mga lisensya nyo
      tanga ka naman dapat bumalik ka sa driving school. Kahit sino pwedeng tiketan kahit biker ka pa basta may nilabag kang batas trapiko. Kaya tayo kailangan kumuha ng lisensiya bukod sa itong proof of identity ay ito’y katibayan na tayo’y may tamang training at kaalaman ng mga responsibilidad bilang motorista. Ireklamo nyo sa Kongreso kung gusto nyo may lisensiya din ang pagbibisikleta.

      Sigurado ka leisurely riding ang mga dumadaan ng EDSA at hindi commuter? At saka e ano naman kung leisurely riding? Kalsada yan, daluyan ng tao, produkto at serbisyo yan sino ka para manghusga ng uri ng paggamit ng isang tao sa pampublikong kalsada?

      Kita nyo nung pandemic ang daming nag-bike to work dahil mas safe ang pakiramdam ng mga tao? Ngayon RTO na syempre hindi na makikipagsapalaran ang karamihan.

      Isipin nyo na lang kung magkakaroon ng ligtas na madadaanan ang mga tao papasok ng trabaho gamit ang bisikleta, sa mahala ng gas at pamasahe malamang marami ulit ang babalik sa bisikleta. Yung tipong imbes na mag bus mrt o kotse ka papasok ay bisikleta na lang gagamitin mo gaya ng ibang mauunlad na bansa.

      Iingeles-ingles ka pa e napakamangmang ng mga pinagsasabi mo. Pwe!

    • It’s always the ignorant like you that talk the loudest.

      “Bicycles are only for recreation”? Bicycles are transport, used by those who can’t afford a donorcycle or car.

      “Not paying a cent to the system”? Utter ignorance. Bicycles DON’T COST THE SYSTEM. The fourth power laws shows how weight causes exponential damage to roads. A two axle bicycle weighs 11kg or 5.5kg per axle. A honda cub weighs 110kg, 55kg per axle. (55kg/5.5kg)^4 = 10,000, i.e. over time a scooter causes 10,000 times as much damage to asphalt as bicycles. A small car cause 160,000 times as much damage as a bicycle.

      If everyone rode bicycles or used public transit, road repair costs would drop 90%. Bicycles don’t damage roads. Gas wastrels like you are the ones destroying roads and costing public taxpayers money, not cyclists.

    • It’s always the ignorant like you that talk the loudest.

      “Bicycles are only for recreation”? Bicycles are transport, used by those who can’t afford a donorcycle or car.

      “Not paying a cent to the system”? Utter ignorance. Bicycles DON’T COST THE SYSTEM. The fourth power laws shows how weight causes exponential damage to roads. A two axle bicycle weighs 11kg or 5.5kg per axle. A honda cub weighs 110kg, 55kg per axle. (55kg/5.5kg)^4 = 10,000, i.e. over time a scooter causes 10,000 times as much damage to asphalt as bicycles. A small car cause 160,000 times as much damage as a bicycle.

      If everyone rode bicycles or used public transit, road repair costs would drop 90%. Bicycles don’t damage roads. Gas wastrels like you are the ones destroying roads and costing public taxpayers money, not cyclists.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_power_law

  7. Tanggalin yang bike lane na yan sa EDSA, wala naman dapat bikes dyan, pandagdag lang sa traffic.. magbayad muna sila road tax taun taon bago sila bigyan ng sarili way.. motor nga wala sarili lane, bike pa.. kapal naman..

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