The roads are meant to be shared, not ruled. Pedestrians, private cars, bikes motorcycles, and public utility vehicles all share responsibilities in following laws to keep everyone on the thoroughfares safe and sound.
With more commuters opting to ride bicycles in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, cyclists have been calling on the government to create and improve bike lanes to ensure their safety.
But in a viral video uploaded by Maria Christina on Facebook, some cyclists are seen occupying more than just their dedicated bike lanes in Las Piñas. The dashcam clip shows a platoon of riders overtaking the private vehicle and filling up both lanes of the road. The car is seen slowing down as the bikes swerve to avoid getting into an accident.
Netizens in the comments section are speculating that the bikes are in an organized race, which is usually accompanied by marshals to control traffic. But the uploader says they did not see or notice any marshals as the fleet passed by.
In the post caption, the uploader expressed her concerns about safety and responsibility on the road.
Safe cycling on the road
As the Department of Transportation (DOTr) continues to expand on bike lanes and other facilities, the agency partnered with SM to launch a Bike Manual. This passport-sized booklet aims to educate cyclists, motorists, pedestrians, and other road users about safety, courtesy, and etiquette while on the shared road.
This manual also includes safety guidelines and pointers such as the use of safety gears, bike maintenance tips, use of hand signals, identifying blind spots, and how to make safe turns.
