![Rider groups to hold protest vs motorcycle lanes, traffic jams expected on Nov. 6 01]()
A massive gathering of members of the motorcycle riding community is set to be held on November 6, 2022 (Sunday), at 6 AM, along White Plains Avenue in Quezon City. Dubbed "Unity Ride for Equality," the gathering's main agenda is to show solidarity in expressing the riding public's opposition to the impending implementation of exclusive motorcycle lanes (MC lanes) along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently announced the agency's plan to implement exclusive MC lanes after a 2-day consultative meeting with some representatives of motorcycle groups, local government units, law enforcement, and other stakeholders. MMDA claims having exclusive MC lanes will help lessen the increasing number of road accidents involving motorcycles. However, Jobert Bolanos, Chairman of the Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO), disagrees.
"We were dismayed over the actions of so-called representatives of the riding community who sold us out to the MC lane initiative, which is purely subjective and lacks proper study on how this will affect rider safety. Malinaw din na sa mga lumalabas na panukala, ay puro motorsiklo lang ang may liability o pinag-iinitan pagdating sa huli o penalty. Panukala tulad ng left lane ban, motorcycle-only checkpoints, anti-modification, and other policies that only focus on motorcycles," said Bolanos.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22557728108/ph_motor_article_fourthp_under_pc', [
728,
90
], 'div-gpt-ad-1686570261346-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1686570261346-0'); });
"Malinaw na walang intensyon ang MMDA na pakinggan tayo dahil ni sagot sa mga position paper natin ay wala tayong natanggap. Malinaw din na hindi nila tayo nais kasama sa mga ginanap na meeting at mistulang pinalalabas nila na agree daw ang lahat ng representative ng motorcycle community sa MC lane" Bolanos added.
After a short program, the riders in attendance will form a motorcade which will take off at 7:45 AM. The route will pass through White Plans Ave., EDSA, East Ave., and Commonwealth Ave., dispersing at Batasan Road. The last Unity Ride held by MRO gathered around 100,000 riders, and we can probably expect the same turnout on November 6. So, if you are not on a motorcycle that day, you might want to stay away from those areas to avoid traffic jams.
MRO will also be joined by motorcycle advocacy groups like Ride Guardians (RG), ARANGKADA Riders Alliance, and Kamote Riders Group (KRG).
Gilbert Chao
Motorcycle Editor
A moto-journo who spends most of his time on the saddle unless otherwise saddled with desk work. His curious nature and poor sense of direction often take him on unplanned adventures.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22557728108/ph_motor_article_relatedmodel_above_pc', [
728,
90
], 'div-gpt-ad-1686570278199-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1686570278199-0'); });
