Dry run for exclusive motorcycle lanes along Commonwealth Avenue to start tomorrow

The dry run for the implementation of exclusive motorcycle lanes along Commonwealth Avenue shall start tomorrow.

The  Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) made the announcement following the formal launch held at the UP-Ayala Technohub footbridge in Quezon City earlier today.

The agency shared that the exclusive motorcycle lane is located at the third lane from the sidewalk of the country’s widest thoroughfare from Elliptical Road to Doña Carmen and vice versa.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Romando Artes said that the activity is designed to familiarize motorcycle riders using the aforementioned road on the said policy.

Although the MMDA will have full deployment of traffic enforcers in the area that will be assisted by the local government of Quezon City, Artes clarified that no apprehensions will be made during the duration of the dry run, which will be until March 19.

According to Artes, the implementation of the motorcycle lane is to cut down the number of fatal road crashes involving motorcycles while enhancing traffic flow there.

Based on the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS), an average of five motorcycle-related road crash incidents happened along Commonwealth Avenue last year. Of those 1,686 cases tallied by the agency, 13 resulted in fatal injuries, 930 in non-fatal injuries, and 743 in damage to property.

Artes mentioned that stricter implementation of exclusive motorcycle lanes on Commonwealth Avenue will commence on March 20. "Violators will then be fined P500," he said.

A total of 154,639 motorcycles and 10,134 public utility vehicles use Commonwealth Avenue— per the annual average daily traffic count from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center.

For his part, 1-Rider Partylist Representative Bonifacio Bosita welcomed the development, adding that he appreciated the special attention given to the riding community. "I am thankful to the leadership of Chairman Artes as he prioritized the safety of motorcycle riders. As an advocate and representative of 1-Rider Partylist, I am appealing to all motorcycle riders to maintain order and discipline on the roads," the legislator said.

Also expressing support to the agency's rider-friendly initiatives is Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, who is also from the same group. "We have high hopes for the success of the implementation of exclusive motorcycle lanes," Gutierrez said.

Under MMDA Resolution No. 22-15, the right outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue shall be designated as an exclusive bicycle lane. The second lane and third lane of the same avenue will be designated as exclusive Public Utility Vehicles (for jeeps, UV Express, buses) and motorcycle lanes, respectively. The remaining lanes of Commonwealth Avenue shall be utilized by all other motor vehicles.

Photos from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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