MMDA mulls narrower bike lane, wider motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Ave.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday it plans to propose the reduction of the width of the bicycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue to provide more space for motorcycle riders. 

MMDA director for traffic enforcement Vic Nuñez said that ever since the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) resumed last month, there has been overcrowding along the exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Avenue, especially during rush hours. 

With this, he said that the MMDA has come up with several proposed interventions to ease the woes of riders:

-Reduce the width of the existing bike lane to create additional space for the existing motorcycle lane;

-Shift the fourth private lane from the MRT-7 to the right beside the PUV lane;

-Remove the existing bike lane to provide additional space to the existing motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue;

-Reconfigure the current bike lane and redesignate it to establish a dedicated lane for motorcycle taxis and similar vehicles

Nuñez said that the widening of the motorcycle lane may be possible as long as the existing bike lane still has enough space for cyclists, ranging from five meters or wider. 

“Sa motorcycle lane, ang travel time mababawasan ng 11%, ang travel speed [madadagdagan ng] 12%.

Due to the additional lane width for the motorcycle lane, it will accommodate more motorcycles,” he explained. 

(The travel time along the motorcycle lane will be reduced by 11%, while the travel speed will increase by 12%.) 

“Sa motorcycle lane, travel time ay 36% ang decrease, ang travel speed ay 63% [ang increase]. The wider lane significantly improves traffic flow by accommodating more motorcycles,” the MMDA official added. 

MMDA chairman Romando Artes, however, pointed out that they will still have to coordinate with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Quezon City local government regarding their proposals. 

He also underscored the importance of road sharing and providing cyclists a path along Commonwealth Avenue where they can safely use their bicycles. 

“Ang bicycle lane hindi kami nagde-decide. ‘Yung sinasabi niyo po na bicycle lane, trap ‘yan, nilagay namin dahil gusto namin na ma-tempt kayo na pumasok para may penalty, hindi po. Hindi namin programa ang bicycle lane at hindi kami ang solo nagde-decide,” Artes explained. 

(We’re not the ones deciding on the bicycle lane. It’s not true that we use the bicycle lane as a trap to give you penalties when you cross it. The bicycle lane is not our program and we are not the only ones deciding on that.) 

The NCAP was resumed after the Supreme Court partially lifted the temporary restraining order against the policy, allowing only the MMDA to implement it anew.

The NCAP uses closed-circuit television, digital cameras, and/or other gadgets or technology to capture videos and images of vehicles violating traffic laws. 

Violators can pay fines online or at the MMDA office, and they can also contest their supposed violations caught under the policy.—LDF, GMA Integrated News