MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday opened a bicycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Opening the bicycle lane were MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista along with other cyclists who rode on the 2.92-kilometer lane that stretched from the University Avenue at the entrance of the University of the Philippines to Tandang Sora.
“We wanted to have bike lanes in the roads of Commonwealth to further promote the healthy practice of using bicycles as every day means of transportation,” Tolentino said.
The bicycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue – dubbed as the “killer highway” of Metro Manila with its record of fatal traffic accidents - is equipped with traffic directional signs and safety devices to aid bikers.
Last November 27, the MMDA created a 4.58-kilometer bicycle lane from the Santolan Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2 station to Imelda Avenue in Marcos Highway in Marikina City.
On November 15, the MMDA opened to bikers a 1.755-km bicycle lane from the Remedios Circle up to the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila Park on M. Adriatico Street in Manila. The MMDA on that same day also opened a 550-meter bicycle lane from Quirino Avenue up to the Cultural Center of the Philippines along Roxas Boulevard.
A similar bicycle lane is also being studied for implementation by the MMDA along EDSA, Tolentino said.
“These dedicated lanes are intended to ensure the safety of the bicycle riders who traverse Metro Manila’s major roads,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino adds that the creation of bicycle lanes along major thoroughfares aims to promote the use of bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation.
“Apart from being environment-friendly, biking is also good for the health,” he said. - Mike Frialde