City asked to pass brief for bike lanes

CEBU, Philippines - Having bike lanes in Cebu City may be a step closer toward realization.

The Department of Transportation and Communication has asked the city government to submit a project brief after receiving the request from the City Council for technical and financial assistance for a feasibility study.

In a letter addressed to the city council last May 6, acting Secretary Cynthia Kahulugan and DOTC Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development Jaime Raphael Feliciano asked the Cebu City government to furnish them a copy of a technical proposal "to help determine if it can be funded through the SVPCF."

Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund (SVPCF) could be one source of funding for a feasibility study since the bike lane project was not included in the transport services study for the city, as pointed out by Feliciano.

This funding is intended for projects that abate and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources, something bike lanes can do.

City Traffic Management Board chairman Rafael Yap welcomed this development saying bike lanes give the public an alternative from motorized vehicles.

"It's always good to have more choices. We are doing our job to provide option for the citizens," Yap told reporters.

He added that CITOM can provide the brief that DOTC is asking for after one week.

"Wa'y problema. If they are willing to fund for the feasibility study on proposed project on bike lanes, we can comply with this request," Yap continued saying the document has to establish the objective of the project.

The CITOM chief said things like health and traffic congestion in the city are major concerns that can be addressed by this bike lane project.

If Yap was pleased, bike enthusiast Ryan Noval, who described himself to be a "road activist", was even more delighted and ecstatic.

"It's about time… since it's been long needed to continue the fight for bicycle lanes and bicycle rights to share the road in Cebu City," said Noval, who also heads a biking enthusiast club called Critical Mass Cebu.

Biking advocates called on different sectors to help the government and civil society in achieving the goal of alternatives to motorized vehicles.

"There are other elements that need to be in place for a cohesive plan to work. Drivers, public, scholastic and government awareness must be in effect along with strict enforcement by CITOM to really work for our very congested city," Noval added.  (FREEMAN)