The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) pushed for the implementation of the exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue in hopes of achieving safer roads. The said exclusive lane is being implemented since March 27, 2023.
MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes recently visited Commonwealth Avenue to check firsthand how motorists adjust or adhere to the new lane assignments along the said thoroughfare. Artes was accompanied by 1-Rider Partylist Representative Bonifacio Bosita.
The two officials assess the exclusive motorcycle lane and discussed the current status of the new traffic scheme along Commonwealth Ave. Among the things that Artes did is to get feedback from the motorcycle riders plying the said road.
Congressman Bosita shared with the MMDA chief that 80 to 90 percent of motorists agree with the implementation of the exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Ave. Although, Bosita as well as the MMDA didn’t elaborate or released an official study in regards to the matter as of this writing.
1-Rider Partylist Representative Bonifacio Bosita (wearing vest) and MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes
The MMDA also revealed that there are some motorists who don’t follow the new traffic scheme along Commonwealth Ave. The agency shared that motorists violating the exclusive motorcycle lane are a common occurrence at night. The MMDA added that erring motorists who pass through Commonwealth Ave. at night are not being ticketed due to the lack of traffic enforcers.
However, several netizens voiced their comments about the exclusive motorcycle lane. Most of them are pointing out safety concerns about the said lane. The common issue raised by netizens is the uneven road surface and the presence of potholes along the exclusive motorcycle lane.
The said issue is not new since it was already voiced out beforehand during the dry run period of the exclusive motorcycle lane. The uneven road surface and potholes are among the reasons why the MMDA decided to extend the dry run period last March. The extension gave the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) more time to work on repairing uneven portions and potholes along the highway.
The exclusive motorcycle lane stretches from Elliptical Road up to Doña Carmen and vice versa.
According to MMDA Resolution No. 22-15, the outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue (nearest to the sidewalk) is designated as the bicycle lane. The second lane is for PUVs while the third lane is the exclusive motorcycle lane. The other remaining lanes along Commonwealth Avenue are for other motor vehicles.
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