The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has spent P1.09 billion for the completion of bike lanes in the National Capital Region (NCR), Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.
Arthur Tugade, DOTr secretary, said the agency is targeting to inaugurate the completed bike lanes this month, as part of the government’s goal to promote active transportation in the country.
This after the agency, together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), completed 497 kilometers of pavement markings, physical separators and road signages in the three metropolitan areas.
In NCR, the DOTr and DPWH completed 313 km. of pavement markings, physical separators and road signages for P802 million, while in Metro Cebu the bike lanes span 129 km. with a budget of P150 million, and P145.4 million was spent for the 55-km. bike lanes in Metro Davao.
The total disbursement for the three projects amounted to P1.09 billion under the Bayanihan Bike Lane Networks project, which forms part of DOTr’s initiatives to promote active transportation and ensure the safety of the pedestrians amid the pandemic.
“We intend to provide commuters with access to faster, and efficient means of mass transportation; and to open infrastructure for active transportation such as walking and cycling,” Tugade said.
Under Republic Act. No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, the promotion of active transportation was strengthened by the declaration of the bicycle as an additional mode of transport and the provision of funding to establish bike lane networks.
Last April, DOTr partnered with SM Supermalls to launch the DOTr-SM Bike manual to be distributed nationwide to thousands of road users.
The Active Transport (Bike) Manual is a passport-sized booklet that aims to educate cyclists, motorists, pedestrians and other road users on safety, courtesy and etiquette while using the country’s roads.
For the pilot launch, around 140,000 published copies in English and Filipino will be distributed for free in all SM Malls nationwide.
The biker’s manual highlights important safety guidelines and pointers for cyclists. These include the use of safety gears, regular bicycle inspection and maintenance, the use of hand signals, identifying blind spots to avoid crashes, how to make safe right turns, and road/traffic protocols.
