MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The Mandaue City Traffic Board has prohibited electric bikes (e-bikes) on city streets effective Nov. 26, 2024, in a decision aimed at regulating traffic and address safety concerns, particularly the unregulated proliferation of e-bikes.
Hyll Retuya, acting head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), explained that the city moved to prevent potential problems early.
He noted that although the number of e-bikes in the city is currently low, reports of their increasing presence prompted immediate action to avoid future complications.
Traffic enforcers will initially issue verbal warnings to violators, but Retuya confirmed that e-bikes caught operating illegally will eventually be impounded, with no option for recovery.
Fines of up to P1,000 will also be imposed for unregistered or unauthorized operations.
The ban also addresses the fairness issue for registered tricycle operators who comply with regulations. Retuya stressed that e-bikes, often modified to carry passengers, must follow the same rules, including registration and licensing, to ensure equality with other public utility vehicles.
The policy primarily targets e-bikes used for public transportation, while private e-bike users will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Traditional trisikads are still allowed in barangay with narrow streets but remain prohibited on major roads to maintain traffic flow and safety.
The move is in line with the national efforts, such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s ban on tricycles along national highways and the Land Transportation Office’s suspension of light electric vehicle registrations.
Team plans to conduct an information campaign before fully enforcing the ban, to ensure that the public is well-informed about the new policy.
