Puerto councilor pushes bike lanes
I learned from the other places that they are promoting the use of bicycles, that I like to also promote it in Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa City Councilor Nesario Awat on Monday maintained there is a need to allot a portion of all national and city roads for the preferential use of bikers in the city.
Awat said 1.5-meter lanes on both outer sides of roads would pave the way for all motorists plying the city streets to observe safety and steer bikers away from accidents and injuries.
“This is (an) imaginary lane because so far, nothing yet is in place. But eventually, there can be a line (bike lane) on 1.5 (meters) from the outer lane,” he stated.
Awat said the implementation of an ordinance would prompt the Office of the City Engineer to administer establish bike lanes on thoroughfares within Puerto Princesa’s city limits.
The measure, he added, would also encourage locals, particularly students in public schools, to use bicycles as a mode of transportation especially in barangays where there is a scarcity in mass transport.
“I learned from the other places that they are promoting the use of bicycles that I like to also promote it in Puerto Princesa,” said Awat.
Indigenous peoples representative Councilor John Mark Salunday backed Awat’s proposal, stating that public transport in the west coast barangays of Puerto Princesa have no regular routes or oftentimes hard to avail.
Awat said the ordinance also provides a loan component for city government employees could use to acquire bicycles. Barangay officials may also take out loans from their respective barangays’ budgets.
Bike advocates in Puerto Princesa were led by Regional Trial Court Judge Bayani Usman and Commission on Higher Education-MIMAROPA Director Joselito Alisuag and supported by journalists, lawyers, doctors, businessmen, environmentalists and students.