JAN.

27, 2011 DATE

MR # 2293B
REF. NO.

Solon wants to regulate motorcycles and bicycles along national roads

A lane for motorcycles and bicycles will be established along the national roads soon, under a proposed measure filed at the House of Representatives. House Bill 1836, authored principally by Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), restricts persons who are driving motorcycles and bicycles to a specific lane in major thoroughfares. The bill provides for separate or segregated lanes or facilities for motorcycles and bicycles, establishing specific traffic rules and regulations governing their use and penalizing would be violators, according to Teodoro. Under the bill, motorcycles and bicycles will not be allowed in EDSA and the North and South expressways. While it is not realistic to ban outright the use of motorcycles or bicycles along national roads and highways, given the dearth of private vehicles and apparent lack of a mass transport system in the country, a codified set of rules must be set in place to minimize, if not outright eradicate the problem, Teodoro said. Citing statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), Teodoro said road accidents are the 4th leading cause of deaths worldwide and 70% of these are related to either motorcycle or bicycle use. Teodoro said it is estimated that an average of one person dies everyday from road mishap wherein the victim is usually a pedestrian or a motorcycle or bicycle operator in the country. It is unfortunate that although these are staggering statistics, there are no sufficient rules and regulations governing the use of motorcycles and bicycles, which could partly explain the seeming unabated occurrences of motorcycle or bicycle based road accidents, Teodoro said. The proliferation of motorcycles and bicycles plying along national roads and highways should be regulated and made subject to stringent rules if only to protect both motorists and pedestrians from any road accidents, occasioned by the inherent nature of these vehicles, Teodoro added. Under the proposed Segregated Cycle Lanes Act, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is mandated to inform all district engineers to place marks on existing main roads and highways to indicate lanes for motorcycles. Such lane shall be

JAN. 27, 2011 DATE

MR # 2293B
REF. NO.

shown by a solid white line along either side of the street, four or more feet from the curb. Under the bill, a motorcycle or bicycle shall be equipped with the required brakes, handlebars, a lamp emitting a white light, which illuminates the highways placed in front, and the sides of the motorcycle or bicycle, a red reflector mounted on the rear and a white or yellow reflector mounted on each pedal for bicycles. Violators face a fine of not more than P50,000 or suspension from work in case of government employees or officers and revocation of drivers license. (30) lvc