By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco, February 1 2019; Business Mirror
Image Credit to Business Mirror
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is eyeing to allocate a lane in Edsa exclusive to motorcycle riders, right next to the yellow lanes currently being used by public-utility buses.
Jojo Garcia, MMDA general manager, said this would be made possible once the so-called road diet proposal pushes through.
The road diet proposal seeks to reduce the width of the lanes along Edsa by up to 3 meters to create a new lane for motorcycles. At present, Edsa has five to six lanes, with an average of 3.5 to 3.7 meters width per lane.
“Even if we narrow the roadways, it is still safe for the motorists,” said Garcia after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting in Thursday.
The existing motorcycle lane or blue lane along Edsa is nonexclusive, which means that private vehicles may also use them.
During the MMC meeting, Metro Manila mayors approved the drafting of a resolution to study the road diet proposal.
The MMDA was tasked to conduct traffic evaluation studies to determine the appropriate speed for the proposed 3.05 meter lanes.
“A technical working group will be created. We shall also invite the stakeholders to know their take on the road diet plan,” Garcia said.
Based on the studies of the Department of Public Works and Highways, roads can be reduced to 3.05 meters.
Under the plan, Garcia said, Edsa roadways will be segregated accordingly: two lanes are exclusive to passenger buses, one lane for motorcycles and three remaining lanes for private vehicles.
Other ideas considered for the creation of new lane are wider sidewalks, pedestrian islands, crossways, bike lanes and green space.