MANILA, Philippines — The country’s bicycle lane network has been expanded by another 68 kilometers as part of the government’s continuing efforts to promote active transportation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced yesterday.
The DOTr and Department of Public Works and Highways inaugurated on Wednesday the South and East Metro Manila bike lane network, bringing to 563.57 kilometers the bicycle lane network completed in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.
The East Metro Manila bike lane covers 17.2 kilometers along six road sections in Marikina City. The 49.36-kilometer South Metro Manila bike lane covers three road sections traversing the cities of Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Parañaque.
The DOTr said the South and East Metro Manila bike lane network aims to connect the existing bike lane in the metropolis and extend active transport infrastructure in other areas adjacent to the existing network to provide safety for all road users.
The bike lane network includes signage, solar studs for visibility at night, pavement markings as well as physical separators such as bollards, concrete delineators and bike racks.
The project was funded under Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act of 2020.
The South and East Metro Manila bike lane expansion project received its funding from the 2021 General Appropriations Act.
The DOTr said the establishment of bike lanes seeks to promote active transportation as an effective and beneficial mode of transportation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
“Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade believes in this program that he gave me specific instructions to make sure that we include active transport as one of our proposals for the 2023 budget, hoping that the next DOTr chief will continue the project,” said DOTr Undersecretary for finance Giovanni Lopez.