LTO chief wants e-trikes and e-bikes registered

This file photo shows an e-tricycle. Land Transportation Office (LTO) head Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II on Thursday, February 29, 2024, proposed that electric bicycles (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) must be registered and that drivers of such vehicles must be licensed. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is proposing the registration of electric bicycles and tricycles as well as the issuance of licenses to their drivers.

LTO head Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II presented the proposal during a consultation meeting with representatives from various transport organizations and government agencies on Thursday.

“Our proposal is very simple as far as LTO is concerned: All light electric vehicles used in public highways, which means […] any roads funded and maintained by the government whether it’s local government or national government, that vehicle must be registered with LTO,” Mendoza said.

“The driver of the vehicle must be licensed, which means to say at least 17 years old [with a] valid license that passes through all the process,” he added.

READ: Transport agencies tackle rules for electric vehicles

Mendoza’s recommendation came a day after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) passed a resolution banning e-bikes and e-trikes on national roads under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The MMDA and MMC said in a press conference on Wednesday that starting in April, e-bikes and e-trikes should not be allowed on the following roads:

• Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa)
• C.M. Recto Avenue, Manila
• President Quirino Avenue, Manila
• Araneta Avenue, QC
• Katipunan/C.P. Garcia, QC
• Southeast Metro Manila Expressway
• Roxas Boulevard, Manila / Pasay / Paranaque
• Taft Avenue, Manila / Pasay
• Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway)
• Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong / Pasig
• Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong / Pasig
• Magsaysay Boulevard/Aurora Boulevard, QC / Manila
• Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue, QC
• A.Bonifacio Avenue, Manila, QC
• Rizal Avenue, Manila
• Del Pan/Marcos Highway/McArthur Highway
• Elliptical Road, QC
• Mindanao Avenue, QC
• Marcos Highway

Violators will be apprehended and fined P2,500, as their units will also be impounded if they fail to present a valid driver’s license.

Both MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes and LTO chief Mendoza stressed that drivers and passengers’ safety concerns were the main reason for the ban.