Dry run on EDSA's motorcycle lanes ends today

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authorities (MMDA) will strictly implement its new policy on EDSA’s motorcycle lanes starting today.

Motorcycle riders who refuse to use the designated “blue lanes” and motorists who will push these riders away from the designated lanes will be penalized, said Emerson Carlos, MMDA’s assistant general manager for operations.

They will be chased and stopped by members of the MMDA’s “green tank” unit, who will issue violation tickets. Motorcyclists will be made to pay a fine of P500 for each violation made.

A dry run, which ends today, was implemented to disseminate information on MMDA’s motorcycle lanes on EDSA starting Feb. 14. Carlos said nearly 4,000 motorcyclists who violated the motorcycle lane policy attended a 15-minute roadside safety lecture handled by expert motorcycle riders.

The MMDA will also go after motorcyclists who will use cell phones while driving, are not wearing helmets, driving an overloaded bike, driving bikes with defective signal or headlights or those without license plates.

The penalty for driving while intoxicated is at P2,000; using a cell phone while driving, P200; without helmets for driver and passenger, P150; overloading, P150; and reckless driving, P500.