Metro Mayors to Add More Motorcycle Lanes, Amend Light Truck Ban, Enforce No Contact Apprehension

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has approved the establishment of motorcycle lanes along Marcos Highway, Roxas Boulevard, and Elliptical Road to Quiapo during its regular meeting Thursday.

The designation of non-exclusive motorcycle lanes along Marcos Highway from Katipunan Avenue to Sumulong Highway and vice versa; Roxas Boulevard from NAIA/MIA Road to Anda Circle and vice versa, and Elliptical Road to Quiapo (Quezon Avenue, Espana, Lerma, and Quezon Boulevard and vice versa) was proposed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to reduce the volume of motorcycles passing through these major thoroughfares.

"Owing to the large volume of motorcycle traffic along Marcos Highway, Roxas Boulevard, and Elliptical Road to Quiapo, it is imperative to likewise establish non-exclusive motorcycle lanes," MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said as he presided over the MMC meeting held at its headquarters in Guadalupe, Makati City.

The non-exclusive motorcycle lanes that were established along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue and CP Garcia Avenue has resulted in the reduction of motorcyle-related incidents in Metro Manila and instilled discipline among motorcycle riders.

The MMC, composed of Metro Manila mayors, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.

Under the proposal, the MMDA's Traffic Engineering Center shall be responsible for putting pavement markings and installation of the appropriate signage for the purposes of implementing the non-exclusive motorcycle lanes.

The agency shall impose PHP1,000 fine on violators.

During the meeting, the Metro mayors also approved a resolution amending the uniform light truck ban policy for cargo trucks with a gross capacity weight of 4,500 kilograms and below on EDSA and Shaw Boulevard at certain hours of the day.

Light trucks would now be banned from passing these major roads from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Monday to Saturday except Sundays and holidays to further ease traffic along EDSA, from Magallanes until North Avenue in Quezon City; and Shaw Boulevard within the jurisdiction of Mandaluyong and Pasig cities.

The regulation previously prohibits light trucks from traversing these major thoroughfares from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The MMC has also agreed to enforce the no contact apprehension policy (NCAP) in apprehending illegally-parked vehicles along major roads.

Lim said the NCAP has been effective in catching traffic violators through utilizing closed-circuit television cameras, digital cameras, and other handheld devices.

"There remains a proliferation of illegally-parked motor vehicles along the national, city and municipal roads of Metro Manila despite earnest efforts exerted by the MMDA and Metro Manila local government units in road clearing," Lim said. "Thus, this regulation can be a big boost to the agency’s campaign against illegal parking and help avert heated argument between traffic enforcers and vehicle owners during clearing operations."

The MMDA would summon the owner of a vehicle that is caught illegally parked once the policy is implemented.

MMDA data shows that at least 45,236 were apprehended for illegal parking in 2017.