SENATORS UNITED ON NEED FOR BIKE LANES

CROSSING party- lines, senators have expressed their support for the passage of Senate Bill ( SB) 1582, or the “Safe Pathways Act,” a measure being pushed by Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano that seeks to establish a network of bicycle lanes throughout the country.

The bill’s supporters include Sen. Francis Tolentino, who pushed for the establishment of bike lanes in Metro Manila during his stint as chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

He recently filed Senate Resolution 411 urging appropriate government agencies to designate, develop and improve bicycle lanes in the metropolis.

“I am more than willing to sponsor this measure ( SB 1582). I join the good sponsor in dreaming that in the next few weeks [ or] days, [ we will] have permanent bike lanes in Metro Manila,” Tolentino said following Cayetano’s sponsorship speech on World Bicycle Day on June 3.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon described the bill as “timely,” adding that he had a “personal attachment” to the proposal as his home city, Iloilo, had long established dedicated bicycle lanes, which he hopes to be a model nationwide.

Sen. Ronald de la Rosa said bike riders should be given priority.

Sen. Richard Gordon thanked Cayetano for leading the initiative toward promoting bicycles and other modes of sustainable transportation. He said this could be an opportunity for the country to boost its own bicycle industry and in turn create more jobs.

Sen. Ana Theresia Hontiveros, likewise backed SB 1582.

“I would like to express my support to this bill authored and sponsored by Senator Pia and join [ her], as well, in this realizable hope that this act establishing pop- up bike lanes and emergency pathways will help evolve the infrastructure for these bicycle lanes becoming a permanent feature of our urban centers and cities,” she said.

Senators Mary Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Jr., Emmanuel Pacquiao, Juan Edgardo Angara and Emmanuel Joel Villanueva expressed their intent to be co- sponsors and/ or co- authors of the bill.

Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking, sponsored SB 1582 in time for the global celebration of World Bicycle Day.

“In lieu of buses, trains, and cabs, many, including our very own health care workers and frontliners, have turned to more resilient and safer ‘alternatives’ like biking and walking,” she said.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL