GMA to lead launching of bike lane project

President Arroyo will join Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando in launching the agency’s bike lane project in an effort to cut energy and fuel consumption in the metropolis.

The President will see for herself how "Metro Padyakan" will be pilot tested along Xavierville Avenue and Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Both roads lead to EDSA, which is why Fernando picked the two as possible bike lanes.

The MMDA chief is ordering the conversion of one or two lanes into bike lanes which will can easily be distinguished from those for vehicles since they are being painted pink.

Fernando said the MMDA hopes to provide cyclists with safe paths starting with a two-kilometer stretch.

"We finally reached a broad consensus and came up with solid strategies to address prominent concerns, including safety," he pointed out.

Bicycles, Fernando said, will be cheaper and healthier modes of transportation at a time when the country faces a possible energy crisis.

The MMDA chief said his traffic engineers have mapped out a viable interconnected bikeway for other secondary routes in Quezon City.

Work on these routes, he noted, will start immediately after this Saturday’s launching of his "Metro Padyakan."

Fernando said the areas include the vicinity beneath the Kamuning flyover, EDSA corner Lane 1, NIA Road, Agham Road, BIR Road, Panay Avenue, Bohol Avenue, Scout Borromeo, Timog Avenue, Scout Reyes, Scout Castor, Scout Ybardaloza, Scout Madrinian, Scout Esguerra, Scout Magbanua, and Mother Ignacia.