BORACAY – There has been a sudden influx of electric bicycles (e-bikes) nowadays and drivers mostly skirt laws when they ply streets, Cong. Carlito Marquez of the 1st District of Aklan said.
Some of these e-bikes, according to Marquez, do not even have plate numbers or registered.
“There are hordes of e-bikes in the streets and comes a no surprise, given the traffic and parking problems the motorists have to contend every day,” he said.
To control the proliferation of these alternative transportation units, Marquez introduced House Bill No. 149 requiring drivers and operators to secure necessary permits before they could ply the streets.
E-bikes resemble traditional bicycle in both appearance and operation, except, these are equipped with a battery-powered motor that provide assistance.
According to Marquez, e-bike owners are attaching a sidecar to e-bikes to ferry passengers and for personal use, and are running in public roads without registration from Land Transportation Office (LTO).
“Is there a national law regulating the use of scooter, e-bike or e-trike which means that anyone, with or without driver’s license can use, drive or operate it on major streets just like any motorized vehicle? Is an e-bike or scooter simply a bike, in therefore, in most cases, are exempted from traffic rules and regulations,” said Marquez.
Battery-operated e-trikes now plying in cities and provinces are part of Department of Transportation program to reduce pollution and to modernize tricycle operation. (With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
