Bike lanes work!
Yesterday morning, I tried first-hand the bike lanes that have sprouted since the pandemic. From Bonifacio Global City, I took edsa and biked all the way to SM North where I turned right on North Avenue towards Quezon Circle and to UP, then to Ateneo on my way back to BGC. My verdict—the bike lanes work!!
It was indeed a pleasant surprise using these bike lanes and seeing the ease of travelling via these lanes. The decision of the government, in particular the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the mayors of Metro Manila to promote the use of bikes through the building of bike lanes all over is a good one. And we have been told that there are more to come, in terms of infrastructure to accommodate and encourage bike mobility. This we all look forward to.
Going back to my ride, let me tell you that the width of the lane is just right even for two cyclists occupying the whole bike lane. There are divisions that vary as you go along. In some areas, the divisions are made of concrete, some are of hard plastic
and still others have no divisions but painted lanes. In intersections, lanes are cut but they continue on the other side. In total, I never did once felt stressed out given that I knew motorized vehicles were passing by.
From what I know, the government will build more bicycle lanes as well as make them more adherent to international standards. Bike lanes will also be built connecting Edsa to the CBDS with some elevated ones similar to pedestrian overpasses. This is something we look forward to.
I remember an interview with a transport specialist in a televised program just two weeks ago. The transport specialist lamented that the bike lanes on Edsa should not be there in the first place as this would cause congestion. I beg to disagree.
We know we have the “Build, Build, Build” program in full swing and this will definitely benefit us even beyond this administration; but I do hope our government will not forget the metro-wide bike lanes they committed to build. Let us have another Bbb—this time: Bike, Bike, Bike!
If there is one group that will have to be accommodated and prioritized, it should be the cyclists, the pedestrians and others with their own personal mobility devices. If there is one group that will have to adjust, then it has to be the ones with their motorized vehicles.
Road transport contributes to 70 percent of all emissions from all forms of transport in the Philippines. And such transport emissions contribute to a third of all greenhousegas emissions in the country. And remember that respiratory illnesses make up a third of all causes of deaths. Shouldn’t we stop there or at least minimize our dependence on fossil fuel? Let us remember our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Let us remember our participation in the 2015 Paris agreement. More importantly, let us remember what we need to do for the future of our children and our grandchildren —provide a better environment for them to live in.
I have some suggestions to my friends in government who are in charge of these bike lanes. First, lighting them up for evening use is not a bad idea. And it would not be that expensive. There are existing cat eye reflectors but not enough. Solar powered light posts can both light up the lanes as well as provide fair warning to motorists. Second, maybe have some of our enforcers on bikes, to monitor the safety of the cyclists and pedestrians. Third, some streets can be closed for vehicular traffic, even just on weekends. Fourth, more seminars please on cycling and road safety. This government can do many things with the many private and civic groups that are into low carbon transport. Lastly, we know we have the “Build, Build, Build” program in full swing and this will definitely benefit us even beyond this administration; but I do hope our government will not forget the metro-wide bike lanes they committed to build. Let us have another Bbb—this time: Bike, Bike, Bike!
I am sure this is not the first time to have cycling as the topic for my column. And this won’t be the last, definitely. Let’s push cycling mobility now and beyond the pandemic. We know the benefits. And we know also what will happen if we don’t.