EDSA MC Lane may be back soon
It was 2012 when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) established the EDSA Motorcycle Lane (MC Lane) through Resolution 001-12. The EDSA MC Lane was designated on the fourth lane from the right sidewalk and spans the entire length of EDSA, from Monumento, Caloocan City to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, and vice versa. This MC Lane was not exclusive to motorcycles and private vehicles were also allowed to use this version of the EDSA MC Lane.
Though no longer being implemented due to MMDA’s Road Diet program, as well as the establishment of the EDSA Bus Carousel and EDSA bicycle lane, authorities are now looking to bring back the EDSA MC Lane and this time they want it to be exclusive to motorcycles.
Just recently, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the agency is in talks with the MMDA on the possibility of establishing the EDSA MC Lane again, and this time, it’s the other half of the lane that is occupied by the bicycle lane.
“EDSA only has four lanes, and one lane is already for the busway while on the right side is the bicycle lane. We are looking to maybe turn the one next to the bicycle lane into a motorcycle lane… As we can see now on EDSA, all the lanes are being taken up [by motorcycles],” said Bautista.
Senators not sold on the idea
While the intention is good, especially when it comes to decongesting the busiest thoroughfare in the country, senators have expressed their reservations about re-establishing the EDSA MC Lane.
“This experiment has been implemented in various forms by the MMDA in the past. They instituted a non-exclusive lane in EDSA and, more recently, an exclusive one in Commonwealth Avenue which is the largest highway in Metro Manila… Are they intending to share it with bike lanes? Should it be standardized across all highways? The varying placements of motorcycle lanes can be confusing to motorists who traverse multiple highways daily,” said Senator Grace Poe, who is also the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.
Senator Chiz Escudero, also echoed Sen. Poe’s reservations and questioned the effectiveness of the EDSA MC Lane in solving traffic congestion.
As for Senator Nancy Binay, she believes that a dedicated EDSA MC Lane is only a band-aid solution that will not effectively address the traffic situation in EDSA. She says that DOTr should instead focus its resources on efficient mass transit systems.
“The reason why such alternative rides exist is because our public infrastructures fail to address urban mobility challenges—just palliative and short-term solutions only. That’s why we should no longer dwell on policies that will sideline effective mass transit solutions,” said Binay.
