A group from Metro Manila wants to focus on creating bike lanes in the city as a response to the growing number of cyclists. Vanessa Bugtong reports.  

Since 2022, Neil has been using a bicycle to go to work.  

Although there are bike lanes in the city, he often has to weave through traffic alongside other vehicles on the road.  

Some motorists don’t allow him to use the bike lane.  

According to Neil Clark Onchangco, cyclist, “It often happens, but it’s about being brave; if you can gauge the situation, you know.”  

(Madalas pero kwan yan e palakasan ng loob pagka halimbawa tansyado mo naman, alam mo.)

Aside from this, the lack of bike lanes in the city is also a problem.  

“The rest are shared lanes, not the bike lanes you’re referring to…other types of vehicles,” Onchangco added.

(The rest is puro shared lane hindi siya yung sinasabi niyo na bike lane…other types of vehicles.)

That’s why he and his fellow cyclists are requesting…  

“Hopefully, the mobility ordinance passes the third reading…and gets tackled,” says Onchangco. 

(Hopefully pumasa na sa 3rd reading yung kwan yung mobility ordinance…matackle na.)

Due to problems like these, a group wants to help the city government add and improve bike lanes in the city.  

This is part of their program called “Bilang Siklista.”  

According to Nazrin Camille Castro, Branch Manager – The Climate Reality Project Philippines “A challenge to local government units…initiatives.”  

(Challenge to local government units…initiatives.)

The group started the program in 2020 in Metro Manila due to the increase in cyclists during the pandemic.  

“And Baguio City was awarded bronze,” Castro added.

(At doon na a-awardan ang Baguio City ng bronze.)

Through this program, they will also be able to determine the total number of cyclists in the city.

This is important for the development of more bike lanes in the city.  

“Because we don’t have data yet… when school starts. Last year, because of ‘Bilang Siklista,’ the LGU obtained the budget to improve bicycle lanes… Katipunan,” Castro mentioned.

(Kasi wala pa tayong data…pagpasok sa skwela. Last year dahil  sa bilang siklista, nagamt ng LGU ang budget to improve yung bicycle lanes…katipunan.)

According to the group’s latest data in 2023, they recorded a total of 1,213 cyclists in the city and 98.27% of these are men, while 1.57% are women.  

However, it’s a big challenge, especially since the city’s roads are limited in width.  

In 2021, the city government spent 50 million pesos to build bike lanes for 11 routes in the city, with a total length of 14 kilometers.  

This was also in line with the DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-100, which promotes cycling lanes and pedestrian paths.  

If this happens, the group, in partnership with the city government, can study the placement of bike lanes on the roads more thoroughly.