An e-bike earned flak for blocking an emergency vehicle’s path by swerving into its lane in an undisclosed location.
Automotive publication VISOR on Tuesday, November 11, posted a video sent by Robert Reimund Veluz, who said that it might be time for e-bike drivers to be licensed as well.
The video showed someone inside an emergency vehicle with its sirens blaring.
“Paki-abante, paki-abante!” an individual exclaimed aboard the vehicle.
When everything finally appeared cleared to them, an e-bike from the right side suddenly swerved in its path, temporarily blocking its way.
It caused someone inside the emergency vehicle to shout.
“Time na siguro para magkaroon ng license ang mga e-bike,” Veluz was quoted as saying by VISOR.
A search on Facebook reveals Veluz as a fire volunteer.
The post has earned 40,000 likes and reactions, 17,000 shares, and 3,200 comments from Facebook users, who similarly condemned the e-bike that swerved in the emergency vehicle’s path.
“Dapat kasi nire-require na rin na may license ang mga gumagamit ng e-bike kasi nagiging sanhi na rin sila ng aksidente dahil hindi nila alam ang road law, tapos [‘yung] iba, siga pa sa daan…” a Facebook user wrote.
“Napakatagal na ‘yang hindi pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng gobyerno. Sobrang daming pasaway na e-bike. Ok lang sana kung may training at license sila eh. Kaso wala talaga. ‘Pag nagkaroon ng grabeng aksidente na involved ang e-bike, saka ‘yan aayusin ng gobyerno,” another user said.
“Dapat naman talaga, kasi ‘yang mga ‘yan mga Bagong Hari ng Kalsada. Sagad pa sa pagka-kupal mga ‘yan. Lalakas pa gumitna sa kalsada, tapos kapag binusinahan mo, galit pa,” commented a different Pinoy.
Drivers are supposed to give way to emergency vehicles, which are equipped with sirens and flashing lights to alert motorists to yield and allow them to respond to emergencies and travel through traffic quickly.
Latest reports indicate that the Land Transportation Office has temporarily suspended the registration of light electric vehicles (LEV) e-trikes, e-bikes and e-scooters in October 2024.
Then-LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said that the agency was holding off on requiring LEV users to obtain a driver’s license while they iron out the roadworthiness regulations for such vehicles.
In the Philippines, a driver’s license is considered a privilege and not a right.
It is given only to individuals who have passed theoretical and practical driving tests, which include knowledge of road rules.
E-bikes gained popularity among Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic as they sought alternative transportation modes to overcome challenges in transportation during lockdowns.
