Inclusion of bike lanes in ‘new normal’ road improvements sought

MANILA – Partido Reporma senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar on Friday said road construction and improvements across the country must include designated bicycle lanes as part of the country’s shift to the new normal.

In a statement Friday, the former national police chief said bicycles have become a part of the daily life of many Filipinos both as a means of transportation and a hobby.

“Marami rin akong nakikitang mga kabataan na talagang nahihilig sa pagbibisikleta at nakita ko ito mismo sa aking mga pagbisita sa mga probinsya, lalo na sa mga lugar kung saan paahon ang daan na lumalabas na paborito nilang ruta (I also see a lot of young people who are really passionate about cycling and I have seen it myself in my visits to the provinces, especially in places where the uphill road turns out to be their favorite route),” he said.

Many Filipinos resorted to bicycles when the country’s transportation systems operated on a limited capacity amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic while some have also shifted to using bicycles due to unabated fuel price hikes.

“In order to encourage more people to use bicycles, then we should pursue new normal road constructions and improvements wherein there should be mandatory bike lanes with structures that would ensure their safety, especially against reckless drivers,” Eleazar added.

He cited a case of two cyclists who died after they were hit by a van while resting on the sidewalk in Pasay City.

He said the incident in Pasay was not the first time involving bicycle riders. In the past, several bicycle riders were either injured or killed as a result of reckless driving and unsafe road structures.

When he was still the commander of the Joint Task Force Covid Shield, Eleazar issued an order on police commanders, especially in urban areas, to ensure that all the designated bike lanes are free of obstructions and must be off-limits to motorists.

“If we are promoting bicycles as a better transportation alternative and for healthy living purposes, then the government should walk its talk by making the roads safer for bicycle riders. This would certainly encourage more people to use bicycles. Maaring dagdag gastos ito (There may be additional costs) but I am sure that this is a worthy investment,” he said.