MMDA mulls sharing EDSA bike lane with motorcycles

There’s actually a good number of vehicle owners who also ride their bicycles. For many, cycling during weekends is their way of burning those calories. There are some who cycle to let off some steam that accumulated during the past work week. Then, there are those who ride bicycles to and from work when their vehicle is “coding”.

These cyclists utilize the Bicycle Lane Network (aka bike lane) that was established by the government 3 years ago in response to the limited public transportation due to the pandemic.

Soon, if policymakers should heed the pleas of motorcycle riders, the bike lane in EDSA will become a shared lane.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said the agency is currently conducting a preliminary study focusing on the possibility of making it a shared lane for bicycles and motorcycles.

“The EDSA bicycle lane is underutilized. Hence, the MMDA conducted a preliminary study which will end within the week. We will have a stakeholders’ meeting on August 29 which will be attended by a group of cyclists and motorcycle riders,” said Artes during a press briefing held at the MMDA Head Office in Pasig City.

According to the latest data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, as of July 17, there are 165,000 motorcycles traversing EDSA on a daily basis. “We will consult our stakeholders before we finalize and make recommendations to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The DOTr has the final say on the matter because the bike lane is their project,” shared Artes.

Aside from road sharing, the MMDA is studying the possibility of creating an elevated walkway and bikeway on EDSA, from Guadalupe to Cubao. The MMDA chief further reiterated that the existing policy on the exclusivity of the bicycle lane had been implemented by the agency more than three years ago.

"We have observed that many motorcycle riders use the bicycle lanes on EDSA since the suspension of the no contact apprehension policy. Additionally, we have been receiving complaints from the bicycle groups stating that they could not use the dedicated lane for them," Artes stressed.

The City of Valenzuela has an existing city ordinance that allows for the shared use of the bike lane between cyclists and motorcycle riders.

For motorists who are also cyclists, would you want to share these bicycle lanes with fellow two-wheelers? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section.