E-bikes should be allowed

While these arguments against the new MMDA rules are not completely without merit, we think the harmful consequences are overstated. The number of roads covered by the ban is relatively small; they are indeed convenient, heavily traveled routes, but in no case is their being declared off-limits completely cut off access by users of the affected vehicles to different parts of the city. There are alternate routes.

Furthermore, the safety considerations of the new rules cannot be dismissed. The MMDA cannot prevent all road accidents, but what it can do, and in fact, is expected to do, is to minimize risks as much as possible. Preventing those who are most likely to be involved in an accident from the roads where they are most likely to have that accident is prudent and responsible.

As we said at the outset, however, there is one small flaw in the new provisions in spite of their being otherwise commendable. E-bikes, or electric bicycles, should not be prohibited from using the designated bicycle lanes that already exist on many of the roads covered by the new ban. E-bikes — as opposed to fully electric scooters or electric motorcycles — are human-powered bicycles equipped with low-power supplemental electric motors and, as such, are more akin to “normal” bicycles than they are electric vehicles. While there is time before the new rules take effect, we would urge the MMDA to make a slight revision to allow them to use designated bike lanes, thus perfecting an otherwise sensible measure.