Biking to and from work has relatively increased since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. Due to the lack of public transportation during the height of the pandemic, individuals were forced to use bicycles as an alternate mode of transport.
The said trend has pushed the government to come up with bike lanes. As a matter of fact, the Metro Manila Bike Lane Network was inaugurated back in July 2021. This is done to provide cyclists with a designated lane as public transport was constrained.
That same year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) completed around 497 kilometers of bike lanes in major cities nationwide. Of note, about 300 kilometers of bike lanes can be found in Metro Manila.
While bike lanes are now a common sight on Metro Manila roads, the DOTr is planning to add more designated lanes for cyclists. The agency is eyeing to add more bike lanes in Quezon City under its Active Transport and Public Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project.
DOTr’s new proposed project features creating additional bike lanes on Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue. The agency presented its proposal during a meeting with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Quezon City government.
Present during the said meeting was DOTr Active Transport Program Management Office (ATPMO) Program Manager EnP. Eldon Dionisio, MMDA Head of Traffic Engineering Center Planning and Design Division Engr. Dannedee Bobadilla, QC Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo, among others.
Aside from the proposed additional bike lanes, the DOTr also plans to improve bus and jeepney stops along Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue. The agency explained that the goal of improving the bus and jeepney stops will result in giving cyclists safer rides on the said roads.
A dry run will then be implemented in order for motorists as well as cyclists to become familiar with the new road configuration resulting from the said project.
That said, do you think that there should be more bike lanes in Quezon City, especially on Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.