The Department of Transportation (DOTr) led the inauguration of the 313-kilometer Metro Manila Bike Lane network Tuesday (July 27) at Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
The Metro Manila Bike Lane is part of the 497-kilometer bike lane network, which includes Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. It covers 12 cities and nine major roads in Metro Manila.
“With the completion of bike lanes, cyclists are provided with safe spaces on the road as they pedal to work and to other places. Ngayon, may lugar na para sa ating mga siklista dito sa ating pangunahing kalsada,” DOTr Sec. Art Tugade said, as conveyed by DOTr Road Transport and Infrastructure Assistant Secretary Steven Pastor.
Tugade noted that the Metro Manila Bike Lanes make medical communities accessible to frontliners, and clarified that no orange cones were used along bike lanes as separators.
Similar to the Metro Cebu and Metro Davao Bike Lanes, the Metro Manila Bike Lanes use concrete delineators and flexible rubber bollards, and are made up of white and green pavement markings using thermoplastic paint, bollards bolted to the ground, bike symbols and signages, solar-powered road studs, and bike racks.
Pastor said the Metro Manila Bike Lane Network can accommodate 1,250 cyclists per hour for every meter of road space.
Represented by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-NCR Regional Director Eric Ayapana, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the role of public transportation is crucial to people’s mobility and the country’s economic stability, and thus joins DOTr in promoting sustainable active transportation.
“Born out of the resourcefulness and dedication of workers despite the pandemic, active transportation such as cycling became the obvious solution,” Villar said.
Megaworld Corporation donated 27 bicycles that were turned over to i-ACT marshals yesterday.
Officials present at the inauguration were House Committee on Transportation Chairman Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra, Land Transportation Office Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, and I-ACT Chief Assistant Secretary Manny Gonzales. (DOTr) – jlo
