Bicycle ownership in Philippines increasing – SWS

MANILA, Philippines — As the cycling community calls for better safety measures following the viral road rage incident involving a gun-toting former policeman, a new survey found that more Filipino households have at least one member who uses a bicycle.

Results of the March 26 to 29 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Aug. 31 showed that 36 percent or an estimated 10 million households in the Philippines can be considered as cycling households.

This was up from 29 percent or estimated 7.3 million households in April 2022 and 24 percent of estimated 6.2 million households in May 2021.

Of the 36 percent cycling households as of last March, 23 percent said they use their own bicycles, while 12 percent use borrowed bicycles.

Meanwhile, of the 64 percent non-cycling households, 62 percent said they have no bicycle, while two percent said they have bicycles but they do not use them.

The survey found that there are more bicycle owners than car owners, with the ratio last March at 4:1. This was similar to the polls held in April 2022 and May 2021, but higher than the 2:1 ratio in three surveys conducted in 2020.

Based on the latest survey, six percent of households polled owned a four-wheeled motor vehicle, 11 percent owned a three-wheeled motor vehicle and 41 percent owned two-wheeled motor vehicles.

“Thirteen national SWS surveys from May 2020 to March 2023 show that there were more bicycle owners compared to car owners nationwide. In all 13 surveys, the bulk of motor vehicle owners nationwide own two-wheeled types, such as motorcycles,” said the polling firm.

SWS said the use of bicycles for essential and recreational activities both increased in the latest survey.

Some 27 percent said they use it for recreational activities, up from 18 percent in April 2022 and nine percent in May 2021.

Specific recreational activities included sightseeing (17 percent), exercise (17 percent) and playing (three percent).

Meanwhile, 24 percent of households said they bike for essential activities, up from 21 percent in April 2022 and 19 percent in May 2021.

These include cycling for market, store or grocery runs (16 percent), going to and from the workplace (seven percent), going to other places (seven percent) and for job or livelihood (four percent).

The respondents were also asked to identify up to three reasons why members of their family use bicycles.

The most cited reason was to save fares (56 percent) and improve one’s health (46 percent), followed by saving travel time (27 percent), lose weight (17 percent), recreation or play (eight percent), meet other people or make friends (seven percent), essential activity such as transportation or work (two percent) and to save money (one percent).

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.