Sen. Tolentino pushes for use of existing infrastructure as bike lanes

Senator Francis Tolentino urged government agencies to identify and develop practicable lanes to be used by cyclists in Metro Manila while general community quarantine remains in effect.

Through Senate Resolution No. 411, Tolentino asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on this. 

At a hearing of the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking, Tolentino said the government could use existing public utility vehicle (PUV) lanes that are presently idle and convert them into bicycle lanes.

Tolentino, who previously served as chairman of the MMDA, has been consistently pushing for the use of bicycles as a means of transportation. He cited the MMDA's previous efforts to promote its use. 

"Hindi na po magiging mahirap para sa inyo na ayusin po ang bicycle lanes natin, dahil may mga existing ordinance na rin po ang ilang siyudad tulad ng marikina, quezon city tungkol dito, kailangan nyo lang po i-revisit (It’s not hard to reuse the bike lanes. We have existing ordinances in cities such as Marikina and Quezon City on bike lanes. We just need to revisit them)," he added.

Tolentino said the use of bicycles is not new to Filipinos. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that 24 percent of the Philippine population own bicycles while only six percent own cars.

"Encouraging Filipinos to ride their bicycles to work would greatly help address the impending transportation woes once the MECQ in Metro Manila is lifted," he added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFB) said over two million commuters are expected to avail of limited public transportation in Metro Manila as it transitions to GCQ in the coming days. Most public transportation, including jeepneys, have remained suspended since quarantine was declared in March this year.