Motoring Today Column

Oct 20, 2022

Motorcycle riders have long been asking for an exclusive lane of their own on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

Their wish may soon be granted, at least on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Published reports said that Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Carlo Antonio Dimayuga III has revealed plans to designate one lane along Commonwealth Avenue for exclusive use of motorcycle riders.

This was during a consultation workshop held with various transport and motorcycle-riding groups, government agencies, the academe, and other stakeholders.

Ever since the MMDA began experimenting with motorcycle lanes on EDSA and other major thoroughfares, motorcycle riders have been asking for these lanes to be made exclusive, meaning other vehicles shouldn't be using them.

As it was implemented by MMDA, motorcycle lanes were meant more to restrict the movement of two-wheeled vehicles.

Riders complained this was unfair and unsafe as they still had to share the motorcycle lanes with other vehicles.

The implementation of motorcycle lanes was spotty or lax at best. As happens with government policies and regulations that were difficult to enforce, implementation was either suspended or forgotten.

The MMDA said accidents involving motorcycles are on the rise, not surprising with the exponential rise in the number of motorcycles registered in Metro Manila which now number around 1.44 million as of 2021.

MMDA data show that last year 26,768 motorcycle accidents were recorded in Metro Manila resulting in 295 deaths and 14,500 injured.

This may be the reason for MMDA again planning to implement motorcycle lanes, this time for their exclusive use, starting with Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Observers note that perhaps Commonwealth Avenue was the best thoroughfare to try out this experiment as it has the most number of lanes.

However the more pessimistic among these observers see many problems that need to be resolved.

Starting off with how riders can merge into and out of the exclusive motorcycle lanes. The same goes with where four-wheeled or more vehicles can safely go over those exclusive lanes when needed.

Here's hoping the MMDA is getting help from traffic management engineers. Paging our friends at the UP National Center for Transportation Studies.

After engineering solutions are considered, studied and resolved comes the problem of educating motorcycle riders and other drivers on the proper use of the exclusive motorcycle lanes.

Like children with coloring books, many riders and drivers have problems keeping within lines.

How motorists of the two-wheeled or four-wheeled varieties treat bike lanes is particularly instructive.

The establishment of bike lane networks - where and how the lanes are designated - seeming without really any thought to their practical use or uniformity of signages is also quite instructive.

The idea of exclusive lanes for motorcycles is good. But perhaps the MMDA needs to think long and hard on going about its implementation and enforcement.

Trade-Ins Made Easy

It seems the trend these days. Auto companies are making it easier for owners to trade in their old vehicles for new ones or pre-owned ones.

They are also ensuring the quality of pre-owned vehicles.

This time it's AC Motors, a multi-brand mobility group that houses global automotive brands Honda, Isuzu, Volkswagen, Kia and Maxus.

AC Motors has come out with a brand new venture called AC Motors Trade+ which offers fast and convenient used car online selling and trade-in program.

AC Motors describes the venture as a hybrid traditional and online vehicle auction for new buyers and existing owners that streamlines the entire process of selling used cars.

The ventures promises a five-day turnaround time for those selling or trading in old cars from inspection to auction and payment.

And the program covers vehicles from other brands not sold by AC Motors.

Levelling up your ride? Head on to AC Motors Centrale and find out more about Trade+.

25th Anniversary Donations

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary by helping out hospitals with P250,000 donations.

First to benefit from this worthy anniversary celebration activity was the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan De Oro.

The second beneficiary is Irosin District Hospital in Sorsogon.

IPC partnered with Isuzu Legazpi under Gencars, Inc. to reach out to a hospital in need of assistance in the Bicol area.

A team led byIPC Vice President for Administration Imelda Bernas and Isuzu Legazpi Sales Manager Susan Reyes travelled to Sorsogon to hand over the P250,000 cash donation to Irosin District Hospital.

The beneficiary is a modest government hospital under the management of Sorsogon Hospital catering to patients from the municipality of Irosin and nearby areas.

Isuzu is planning to help out two more hospitals as part of its Road To Progress program celebrating its 25th anniversary, one in the National Capital Region and another in the Visayas.

Happy Motoring!!!

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