DILG: Edsa bus lane may be removed, motorcycles to be allowed in bike lanes

This picture shows the segregated portion of the Edsa Bus Carousel lane or Edsa busway. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists in Metro Manila might see the eventual phase-out of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) bus lane.

On the other hand, the bike lanes will be “modified” to become a shared space with motorcycles.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said this long-term plan was revealed during a meeting held for the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the meeting on Tuesday.

“Number one, they will modify the bicycle lanes. They will turn them into two-wheel lanes,” Remulla said in Filipino over dwPM on Wednesday.

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“Instead of purely bicycles, the lanes will include motorcycles.”

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Remulla said this arrangement would prevent accidents.

READ: Car owners may eventually have to pay fees to use Edsa, says Remulla

He noted that 70 percent of motorcycle crashes in Metro Manila involve motorcycles trying to avoid traffic congestion.

Aside from these changes, the bus lanes in Edsa will eventually be phased out in line with the projected capacity increase in the volume of MRT passengers.

“Number two, the bus lanes will be eventually phased out because the MRT’s capacity will increase,” Remulla said.

He said the MRT’s daily capacity was expected to increase from 300,000 passengers to 800,000 within this year.

“Now, the capacity will be increased. More wagons will be added. The rails will be modified. It will be able to take 800,000 [referring to passengers], which will make up for the number of people riding the bus every day,” he said.

During the interview, Remulla also said car owners might eventually pay fees to use Edsa so they would be encouraged to ride the MRT instead.