BY MAI LADIAO
AKLAN – Beginning this week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the Philippine National Police in Aklan Province will patrol and issue tickets to motorists who are using bike lanes in the town of Kalibo.
This was announced by LTO-Aklan chief Engr. Marlon Velez in an interview with Radyo Todo.
According to Velez, even though the protected bike lanes are yet to be formally established in Kalibo, they are already conducting road-clearing operations on the streets.
To inculcate the practice of respecting the bike lanes, he said that they will issue tickets to vehicles parked on the bike lanes or use them as a way to avoid traffic.
If the vehicle is parked without the driver present, authorities will leave a notice of violation, he added.
Meanwhile, the LTO will consider vehicles using the bike lanes only if they are dropping off or picking up passengers, or if they are parked temporarily to make a purchase or conduct business in an establishment.
However, vehicles parked in the bike lanes for extended periods, such as the entire day, will be considered illegal parking.
In connection with this, Velez warned that vehicle owners who receive tickets will not be able to renew their registrations until they settle the corresponding penalties./PN
