MANILA, Philippines — Regulating electric vehicles like bicycles and tricycles or e-bikes and e-trikes could worsen road congestion in Metro Manila, a group promoting mobility and active transport warned.

The recent decision of the local government units in Metro Manila and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ban e-bikes and e-trikes along national highways and requiring users to secure driver’s license was “narrow thinking,” according to Roberto Siy Jr., co-convenor of Move as One Coalition.

“It will send the message that we should instead use cars,” he said in a report from News5.

Investing in private cars and motorcycles would “cause more traffic” compared to electric vehicles, which Siy maintained would be “more efficient, zero emission and less demanding in terms of road space.”