DOTr pushes for cycling, walking amid proposal to remove bike lanes

Cyclists commute along Santolan EDSA Quezon City, June 28, 2022. Over 500 cycling enthusiasts and volunteers across the country joined the June Bicycle Count, an initiative that counts bicycles and pedestrians in different cities in the Philippines (Iloilo, Cebu, Mandaue, Naga, and Davao) to help establish baseline data indicating the number of Filipinos using bicycles for daily transport. (c) AC Dimatatac/ICSC

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said it continues to promote cycling and walking as sustainable modes of transport amid proposals to remove the bicycle lane along EDSA.

According to the DOTr, it promotes non-motorized transport (NMT) and use of light electric vehicles (LEVs), in line with the National Transport Policy (NTP) and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 (PDP).

“As DOTr seeks to solve the problem of traffic, it is designating and reclaiming road space to provide safe infrastructure for more efficient and sustainable modes of transport such as bike lanes and walkways,” it said in a statement.

Under the NTP and PDP, pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles are prioritized among road users, according to the DOTr.

Further, it said the PDP may gain momentum as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced that the government should prioritize active transport facilities.

The agency gave the remark after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Don Artes said they are considering a proposal to remove bike lanes from EDSA to replace it with a motorcycle lane.

Meanwhile, organization Mobility Awards said the removal of the bike lanes is “a recipe for gridlock,” adding that this would be a step backwards in promoting sustainable transportation in the country.

“Removing bike lanes not only disregards the needs and safety of cyclists, but also negates the significant investments made in establishing these lanes in the first place,” it said in a separate statement.

The group said that it recorded 7,807 cyclists in five key points along EDSA during a four-hour window.

“Instead of removing the existing bike lanes, efforts should focus on maximizing the impact of the current investment by expanding and improving the bike lane network across the metro,” Mobility Awards said.

“This includes making the bike lanes safer, more connected, and addressing issues of motorcycle and four-wheeler’s encroachment on the bicycle lanes. By doing so, we can encourage more people to embrace cycling, thereby alleviating traffic congestion and fostering sustainable urban mobility,” it added.

The group also stressed that the proposal contradicts plans laid down by the Transportation Department as the DOTr recently allocated a budget of P1 billion for protected bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.

“We urge the MMDA to work closely with the Department of Transportation in building a public transport system that serves everyone and address the issue of traffic congestion of EDSA, and other major routes of Metro Manila,” it said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News

This article DOTr pushes for cycling, walking amid proposal to remove bike lanes was originally published in GMA News Online.