Suspend ban on e-scooters

CEBU, Philippines —  The Sugbo Bike Lanes Board yesterday asked the Cebu City Council to suspend the effectivity of the provision in the Cebu City Traffic Code prohibiting the use of e-scooters and similar devices.

Aside from suspending the effectivity, it also asked the council to amend the code to reflect the current needs of the people.

SBLB chairman lawyer Gerardo Carillo said these measures are expected to pave the way for the use of e-scooters, which are especially helpful for the medical frontliners and essential workers in terms of mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Edgardo Labella earlier tasked Carillo to form an ad hoc committee concerning e-scooters after the Cebu City Transportation Office started apprehending e-scooter users for violating the city ordinance. CCTO said the use of coasters, roller skates, and similar devices in the roadways is prohibited.

E-scooters, which have been classified as “toy vehicle or similar device,” are also prohibited.

E-scooter users, especially frontliners, have been asking reconsideration from the city government as public transportation has been crippled even as the city is now under modified general community quarantine.

City Councilor Joel Garganera has questioned the timing of the implementation of the ban on e-scooters. The Cebu Bike Lanes ordinance does not also cover e-scooters.

“Mind you, the said Traffic Code was enacted in the 1970s – long before it was within our foresight that innovation and technology will lead us towards the era of electric bikes and scooters,” Garganera said.

Personal mobility devices include electronic kick scooters, electric skateboarders, electric bikes, electric unicycle, and one-wheeler.

Garganera noted that under the bike lanes ordinance, the use of the term “electric bicycles” would also pave the way for legislations on other modes of transport such as e-scooters.

SUPPORT

 Vice Mayor Michael Rama earlier expressed support to the use of e-scooters saying users of such may use the bike lane as this is indeed an alternative mode of transportation for work to close to a thousand Cebuanos now.

Rama is also for the regulation of e-scooters, instead of their outright prohibition. He is also in favor of their registration but at no extra cost to the owners.

Garganera, along with fellow councilors Donaldo Hontiveros and Renato Osmena, Jr., has urged the CTTO to reconsider its stand on the prohibition of e-scooters on the main thoroughfares of the city and instead, present recommendations on how to regulate their use.

Yesterday’s board meeting also saw the appearance of Kaaborkads Cebu, one of the local e-scooter groups. They presented ways to make Cebu roads safe for all, including the e-scooters and types of personal mobility devices and their classification for the convenience of the CCTO, the City Council and the Sugbu Bike Lanes Board.

"We are here to help and be part of the solution. Hopefully, they will carry out our suggestions including in the safety precautions, registration and the likes," said Kaaborkads' Patrick Mendoza.

Mendoza also hopes that the roads where e-scooters can ply would be defined soon to avoid being apprehensions. — JMD (FREEMAN)