TO CONTROL the proliferation of tricycles plying the roads, the Lapu-Lapu City Government is banning the unauthorized installation of sidecars on motorcycles.
Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said the move is in response to the growing number of tricycles operating in the city without a registered franchise.
The move is also in response to the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s directive to keep tricycles and other light three-wheeled contraptions out of highways since these pose a danger to their passengers and to other drivers because of their small size, lack of safeguards for their passengers, and slower speed. They also stall traffic on national roads.
Lapu-Lapu City is among the local government units in Cebu that have tricycles as their main mode of transportation.
Chan ordered the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) to determine how many “legitimate” tricycles are operating in the city.
This way, Chan said, they will be able to start implementing traffic rules involving their tricycle route plan.
Chan revealed that there are around 2,000 colorum tricycles that are operating in the city without a registered franchise.
The mayor said clearing the city’s roads of colorum tricycles will not only ensure safety, but also ease vehicular congestion, especially in main thoroughfares.
Chan, though, admitted that there are routes where tricycles would have to cross the national highway to reach the barangay roads.
But he clarified that this does not mean that they will be traversing the national highway since they only need to cross over to get to their next point.
“That is what we are focusing on. Were trying to give them an alternative. We’re looking into how we can help them. If they can qualify, we have trainings available such as housekeeping,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Those caught driving illegal tricycles will have their units confiscated.
Although owners can claim their units, the CTMS will turn over only the motorcycle while the sidecar will remain in the latter’s custody. (GCM, RTF)