Should e-scooters, e-bikes be regulated more? [Poll of the Week]

The popularity of personal mobility devices (PMD) such as electric kick scooters (e-scooters) and e-bikes can be traced back to when public transportation was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the limited passenger capacity, getting to and from one’s destination proved to be challenging for individuals who don’t own a car. 

Bike lanes in Metro Manila have been implemented

Aside from the said PMDs, cycling also became a norm especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) prompting the Department of Transportation to come up with bike lanes. While the use of alternative personal transport such as bikes, e-scooters, and e-bikes can be seen as efficient and environmentally friendly, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is concerned about the users’ safety. 

The MMDA is concerned since it has recorded a rising number of road accidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters. Based on MMDA’s data taken from January to May 2022, there were 64 reported incidents involving e-bikes, 16 incidents involving e-trikes, as well as 2 involving e-scooters.

With that, the MMDA is looking to regulate the use of e-bikes, e-scooters, and the like. Recently, the MMDA sat down with the local traffic bureaus in NCR to discuss the guidelines and the regulations pertaining to the use of electrified personal transport such as e-bikes and e-scooters.  

Electric kick scooters are one of the popular alternative modes of transport in the metro

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) Head for Enforcement Atty. Victor Nuñez said that the agency wants to enforce the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) Administrative Order (AO) 2021-039 to ensure the safety of e-bikes and e-scooters users.   

LTO’s AO 2021-039 contains the consolidated guidelines for the classification, registration, and operation of all types of electric motor vehicles.

The AO states that “operation of electric kick scooter shall be limited within barangay roads only.” However, the AO also states that e-scooters may be “operated on bicycle lanes or similar lanes designated by proper authorities.” 

To put things in perspective, the e-scooters or e-bikes described above are those that come with a maximum speed of 25 km/h, which falls into LTO AO’s Category L1a.

E-bikes are another form of alternative transport

On the other hand, e-scooters or e-bikes that have a maximum of 26 km/h to 50 km/h are categorized under Category L1b. These units are allowed to “go beyond barangay roads … provided that it will take the outermost part of the road close to the edge.” The AO adds that it can “pass main thoroughfares and national roads.” 

Users of Category L1a and L1b are not required to have a driver’s license, and registration for their e-scooter or e-bike is not required. This is according to LTO AO 2021-039.

In line with this, MMDA Task Force Special Operations chief Bong Nebrija said in an interview with GMA’s 24 Oras that e-scooter and e-bike users should follow the guidelines set by the LTO. Among the guidelines included is the wearing of appropriate protective gear, and the use of designated road lanes.

But then again, the guidelines set by the LTO through the AO 2021-039 seem to be open for interpretation which could lead to confusion specifically for e-scooters and e-bikes that fall under Category L1a.

The said confusion has already happened in Makati City last August 2021. E-bikes and e-scooters were not allowed to pass through Makati’s Central Business District (CBD) even along the designated bike lanes.

The city of Makati later on allowed e-scooters and e-bikes to use the designated bike lanes along CBD after an online petition broke out.

E-scooters are one of the efficient ways to get to and from one's destination

But, there’s also the other side of the coin where e-scooter and e-bike users compromise overall road safety. Riders tend to disregard riding along the designated lanes, which put themselves and other motorists at risk. Some even tend to consider that wearing a helmet or safety gear is just a mere suggestion. While some don’t even obey the red light at intersections.

As such, the said disobedience to basic traffic laws could be one of the reasons why the MMDA wants to look into regulating e-scooters and e-bikes. After all, failure to obey simple traffic laws puts everyone in danger.     

That said, do you think that authorities should regulate e-scooter and e-bike users more? Cast your vote in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.