By Alec Go
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the dry run for the implementation of exclusive motorcycle lanes along Commonwealth Avenue will begin on Thursday, March 9, in a bid to reduce fatal road crashes involving motorcycles.
This will cover the third land from the sidewalk of Commonwealth Avenue from Elliptical Road to Doña Carmen and vice versa, according to MMDA.
The outermost lane remains for bicycles based on MMDA Resolution No. 22-15.
“The dry run is meant to familiarize motorcycle riders traversing Commonwealth Avenue on the said policy. We will have a full deployment of MMDA traffic enforcers and we will be assisted by the local government of Quezon City,” MMDA Acting Chairperson Romando Artes said.
“No motorists will be apprehended during the duration of the dry run which will start tomorrow until next Sunday, March 19,” he added.
The motorcycle lane is also seen to improve traffic flow along Commonwealth Avenue.
A stricter implementation of the motorcycle lane is set on March 20 with a P500 fine for violators.
Citing data from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System, the MMDA said there were 1,686 cases or an average of five cases a day of motorcycle-related crash incidents in the area in 2022.
These incidents resulted in the death of 13 individuals, 930 injuries, and 743 cases of property damages.
The MMDA also noted that a total of 154,639 motorcycles and 10,134 public utility vehicles use the avenue on a daily basis. —gb
