DILG will reqiuire LGUs to put up bike lanes

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that they would require local government units (LGUs) to put up bike lanes in their respective cities and towns.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, encourages the use of bicycles as primary mode of transportation.

“Yung bicycle, pino-promote nating primary mode of transportation so mag-uutos na rin tayo sa LGUs na mag-establish ng bike lanes sa lahat ng thoroughfares,” he said.

Año who is also the vice chairman of the IATF, explained that they are encouraging biking for transportation. noting that bicycle are considered cheaper as it do not need gasoline to run. Bicycle, unlike motorized vehicles, does not emit greenhouse (GHG) gases that contribute to air pollution.

Some cities in Metro Manila, specifically Pasig and San Juan constructed protected bike lanes, separate from the portion of roads ttaversed by motorized vehicles.

In Puerto Princesa City, the use of bicycle has been promoted through a local ordinance enacted by the City Council, in a bid to encourage the public to use bikes since it is considered as environment-friendly, and health beneficial.

City Councilor Nesario G. Awat, author of the ordinance, emphasized the importance of riding bicycles in addressing traffic congestion and reducing fuel consumption towards environment-friendly transportation and cleaner air City of Puerto Princesa.

He said that the urban plan integration and the promotion of bicycle use shall be included in the City’s Sustainable Development Plan. The City Planning and Development Department has been tasked to ensure that provision of cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes as part of the City’s urban plan.

In the absence of protected bike lanes, separate from other motorized vehicles in the city, the ordinance provides that five-meter safe distance shall be strictly observed by four-wheel and other motorized vehicles for the safety of bicycle riders in the national road.

The City Ordinance No. 396 also known as the City’s Environmental Code enacted in 2008, likewise promoted bicycles and other environment-friendly mode of transportation in Puerto Princesa.