Malolos, Bulacan requires riders to use the rightmost lane

City of Malolos wants riders on the rightmost lane

The City of Malolos, Bulacan, wants motorcycle riders (along with pedicabs, tricycles and even e-bikes) to only use the rightmost lane (slow lane) when on major thoroughfares.

The City of Malolos cites DILG’s Memorandum Circular No. 2020-036 dated February 2020. Under the memo, all pedicabs, e-bikes, as well as tricycles are prohibited on all roads classified as a National Highway. The said memo, however, does not include motorcycles.

“MAHALAGANG PABATID: Ang mga nagmamaneho o gumagamit ng tricycle, motorsiklo, bike at iba pang mababagal na sasakyan sa highway ay dapat na laging manatili sa kanang bahagi ng kalsada (outermost lane) sang-ayon sa DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-36.”

(Important announcement: those who are driving or riding tricycles, motorcycles, bicycles and other slow moving vehicles on the national highway should only use the rightmost lane in accordance to DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-36)

Dangerous to motorcyclists?

This another ordinance that may not be received well by motorcycle riders.

Riders have regularly aired their grievances against the safety risks posed by riding on the rightmost lane. We've tried it ourselves and even shared what we think (Why the rightmost lane is dangerous for motorcycles). In that story, we talked about our own observations as motorcycle riders on why the outermost lane of major thoroughfares can be dangerous.

For example, in most parts of the national highways in the provinces, their rightmost lane is designated as a shoulder of the highway. However, they weren't always part of the road. After completing the road widening works, obstuctions like electric poles and sometimes parts of houses of locals intrude into the lane, sometimes posing as a road hazard especially to motorcycle riders. In some cases, the width isn't uniform or the rightmost lane isn't even there.