It was my childhood dream to learn to drive a bicycle. Yes, I do not know how. For me, it is a great mystery balancing this light vehicle while others are driving them like crazy. My mom is the culprit, but I do not blame her because what she did is just to protect me from any accidents that a bike can do. Despite the fact that I do not know how to drive a bike nor an electric bike, I decided to buy the latter last January 2, 2023.
According to the LTO or Land Transportation Office’s Administrative Order No. 2021-039 (otherwise known as Consolidated Guidelines in the Classification, Registration and Operation of All Types of Electric Motor Vehicles), my new vehicle is categorized as a L2b or three-wheeled electric mopeds that are operated with or without pedaling with max speed not exceeding 50 kilometers per hour. The said office stated that the owners of this type of mode of transport are only allowed to drive along barangay roads.
The maximum speed of my electric bike has been just 35 kilometers per hour that is why I am prohibited to drive the vehicle on expressways. Although I am discouraged by the LTO’s AO, I still drive my electric bike in highways out of necessity. I am just doing it carefully and take the outermost lane as possible as I can because I am too slow and too small (I mean my vehicle). It is a necessary move on my part to avoid frequent accidents that may occur if I drive along the too narrow eskinita beside our school which serves as a shortcut.
Yes, I can use barangay and local roads for as long as I stay on the part of the road closest to the edge. I may pass (but only to cross) the main thoroughfares and national roads that intersect with allowed roads for as long as I yield the right of way to incoming traffic. Based on the LTO’s administrative order, I need to register my vehicle and I am also mandated to have a driver’s license for me to become road legal. Fortunately, 70 percent of my driving is along barangay and local roads.
For me, driving my electric bike is freedom and happiness. Freedom because the skill that I acquired by using my ebike is a clear testament that no matter how old I am, for as long as I have the mental and physical abilities, I can still manage to learn driving. I just proved that it is never too late to achieve one’s dream.
I cannot explain how happy I am when I first take hold of the steering wheel on my electric bike. It is like a dream come true. Admittedly, if you happened to see me while on wheels during the first week, you will notice that I talk frequently to myself - giving instructions. I was afraid to drive, then that is why talking to myself is the only way to hurdle my fears. It was actually a combination of happiness and excitement while a little bit afraid of what will happen. But I surpassed all of these and now comfortable driving my very first electric bike.
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