As more people rely on bicycles amid the implementation of a more relaxed general community quarantine, the local government of Quezon City will develop a network of bike lanes throughout the city as part of its recovery program.
The city government said on Tuesday that it is now working on the expansion and improvement of its bike network across the city as more workers including healthcare frontliners use bicycles to and from work amid the threat of the pandemic.
“This was a priority for us even before COVID-19 happened as part of our global commitment to reducing air pollution by 2030, but due to the pressing need for transport during the pandemic, and the bike culture that emerged as a result of this, we are fast-tracking its implementation,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Currently, there are a total of 55 kilometers of bike routes in the city. But the local government is set to expand these routes to 161 kilometers or almost three times longer than its current state. Apart from that, it also plans to improve its routes by placing barriers, signages, markers and other vital infrastructure to ensure the safety of bicycle users.
The local government will be working with the Move As One Coalition in identifying other possible bike routes, especially those near hospitals and community care facilities that will ease the daily transport struggles of health workers.
The construction of the bike routes is set to begin in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, a group of cyclists installed pop-up bike lanes using orange bottles along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City since Monday.
The STAR reported that the group, called Bikers United Marshall, placed makeshift cones in a bid to send a message to the government regarding the importance of bikers’ safety.
Rodne Galicha, one of the volunteers for the group, said that they will continue with the installation of makeshift cones to highlight the safety of bicycle users.
“We will not stop until authorities realize that this is actually their job – to assure bikers that they are safe on the streets. We are actually just doing their jobs,” Galicha said.
Meanwhile, the local government of San Juan City will launch later today its pop-up bike lanes to provide people with safe transportation option amid GCQ. – With Marc Jayson Cayabyab