If you’ve been driving around Metro Manila ever since the COVID-19 alert status was eased up a few months ago, you’ll have noticed the increase of e-bike and/or e-scooter users on public roads. That said though, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also noticed an increase in accidents involving these types of alternative transport since January 2022.
An e-trike travelling on a baranggay road
To put this into perspective, the MMDA has reported that it has tallied 64 incidents involving e-bikes, 16 incidents involving e-trikes, as well as 2 involving e-scooters. That totals 82 reported road accidents involving those modes of transport from January to May of this year. These figures were released via a news report from News 5.
To this end, the said agency has expressed its concern about the safety of e-bike and e-scooter users and is pushing for the implementation and enforcement of the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) Administrative Order (AO) 2021-039.
This AO involves the regulation of electric vehicles. And under this, e-scooters and e-bikes will be regulated as per their specifications. This will also take into account their weight, and the maximum speed that they are capable of reaching, among others.
The MMDA has also clarified that AO 2021-039 is not actually based on Republic Act 11697, which in turn is concerned with the proliferation of the local electric vehicle industry in the Philippines. They are somewhat related, but the said AO further classifies electric vehicle types, and further specifies the needed safety equipment for their proper operation.
For example, Category L1a under AO 2021-039, two-wheeled electric vehicles, to which most e-bikes and e-scooters belong, are restricted to bike lanes as well as private and barangay roads. Those driving these are also required to at least wear a bicycle helmet.
Be it e-scoot, e-trike, it goes without saying that helmets are a must [Photo: Marat Mazitov]
Of note, these are the ones capable of at least 25 km/h. Other more powerful e-bikes and e-scooters belong to another category, which allows them to ply local roads. Furthermore, there are also separate categories for three-wheeled e-vehicles, e-tricycles, three-wheeled “tuk-tuk” style vehicles, up to heavier four-wheeled electric vehicles.
Moreover, the AO also details that the classification and the initial registration of these products falls under the responsibility of those who are selling them. This however, is yet to come to common practice among most e-vehicle sellers in the country, and so the LTO should step up to enforce this as well.
Do you agree with the MMDA’s move to implement the LTO’s AO 2021-039? Do you think this can somewhat reduce the accidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters?
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