Public Roads are Meant to be Shared

Thank You for the Bike lanes! Initially, this is what I can say to the LGUs that have provided more bike lanes for cyclists. In Quezon City, I have noticed the emergence of bike lanes on several roads including the notoriously dangerous Commonwealth Avenue. The efforts of the local government of QC to set up up bike lanes and other infrastructures to encourage biking are something that should be appreciated and emulated by other cities in Metro Manila. And I do hope that this is the same in the entire country.

This pandemic has taught us a lot of things. It has given us lessons such as how fleeting our life on earth is and that everything can change in an instant. Aside from the highly philosophical thoughts about life, the more practical lesson the pandemic has reminded us is that - most Filipinos cannot own cars.  A majority of the Filipino population depends on public transport to go to work or to get from point A to point B.  When mass transportation was forced to a halt due to Covid, the humble bicycle became the primary means of transport.

Setting up bike lanes is a strong statement that roads must be shared. Cars and other vehicles must recognize that bicycles have the right to use the road. No one has the monopoly to use the roads. Bike lanes are reserved exclusively for bikers and motorcycles should refrain from using them. Whenever I am using the bike lanes, I often experience vehicles parked on these lanes. Stricter enforcement of the rules regarding the use of these bike lanes is necessary.

The bicycle is the only mode of transport that is within the budget of most Filipinos. There is a bicycle for every budget. A bicycle is also very inexpensive to maintain. Parking will never be a problem. A bicycle is also a more environment-friendly and healthier alternative. With all the reasons for everyone to consider the bicycle as a primary mode of transport, setting of infrastructures to encourage more people to use a bicycle is justified.

In Quezon City, there is an Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2988, Series of 2020) that promotes the safety of using bicycles and as an alternative mode of transportation given the present pandemic where public transport was suspended. I think other cities have already enacted a similar law that promotes the use of bicycles. If not, laws and regulations that protect the safety of cyclists and the use of bicycles should be seriously considered by Local Government Units (LGU's).