MMC okays bike, motorcycle lanes along Commonwealth Avenue
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will establish exclusive lanes for bicycles, public utility vehicles (PUVs), and motorcycles along Commonwealth Avenue in a bid to ensure safety among road users and likewise promote the decongestion of traffic flow in the area.
This was after the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of Metro Manila mayors, agreed “in principle” to establish exclusive lanes for such riders and motorists to avert road accidents. As per the Road Crash Statistics from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, there were a total of 1,010 fatal, non-fatal, and damage-to-property accidents involving motorcycles along Commonwealth Avenue.
MMDA Acting Chairman Engr. Carlo Dimayuga III said that the exclusive motorcycle lanes should be implemented, pending the adjustments recommended by the Quezon City local government unit (LGU).
“The exclusive motorcycle lanes located at the third lane from the right along Commonwealth will depend upon the road conditions as the road has some inconsistencies in terms of lane width due to different construction projects,” Dimayuga said.
In the MMDA Resolution No. 22-15, the right outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue shall be designated as an exclusive bicycle lane. The second lane and third lane of the same avenue will be designated as exclusive PUVs (for jeeps, UV Express, buses) and motorcycle lanes, respectively. The remaining lanes of Commonwealth Avenue shall be utilized by all other motor vehicles.
The agency, in coordination and cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as the Quezon City LGU, shall install appropriate traffic signs and apply the proper lane markings along Commonwealth Avenue from Elliptical Road to Doña Carmen Subdivision and vice versa as a guide to motorists and to delineate the exclusive lanes from one another.
Meanwhile, the MMC also approved the implementation of a temporary truck ban along Roxas Boulevard while there is ongoing DPWH construction in the area, specifically in front of the U.S Embassy.
Dimayuga also said that the agency will implement a moratorium on road diggings, except for the government’s flagship projects, from November 14 until January 2, as part of the MMDA’s traffic mitigation measures for the holidays.
