The local government of San Juan will be launching pop-up bike lanes in the city to provide people with safe transportation option amid the general community quarantine (GCQ).
In a Facebook post, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said that the local government, in cooperation with EDSA Evolution, will be setting up pop-up bike lanes in the city to ensure the safety of those who will be using bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation during the more lenient GCQ.
“This is in line with the initiatives to provide our beloved people with a safe transportation option now that only 50% of public transportation will be allowed during the implementation of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) beginning Monday, 1 June 2020,” Zamora said.
Zamora said that they’ve started the installation of the initial bike lanes on Sunday in preparation for the influx of people who will be returning to their work.
The first phase of the pop-up bike lane will be from N. Domingo to Ortigas Ave. before the intersection of Connecticut which will pass through major facilities and institutions like the San Juan Medical Center, the San Juan City Hall, Greenhills Shopping Center, and near Cardinal Santos Medical Center, according to Zamora.
He said that although tricycles have already resumed operations last Thursday, the local government deems it necessary to provide its constituents more mobility options amid the threat of the pandemic.
“In the past months, it was evident how useful bicycles are as a means of transportation in the middle of a pandemic such as COVID-19, which requires social distancing. It does not only enable the public to observe social distancing, it also is a sustainable and environment-friendly mode of transportation that promotes an active lifestyle,” Zamora said.
He said that the local government will officially launch the first phase of the pop-up bike lane during the celebration of World Bicycle Day on June 3 at Pinaglabanan Shrine.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is also promoting bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation amid the implementation of GCQ.
“We’re promoting bicycle riding and other alternative modes of transportation dahil alam po natin kung gaano katrapik dito sa Pasig. Alam po natin na 90% ng trapik na yan ay galing sa private cars,” Sotto said.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier held a trial run of bike lanes along EDSA ahead of the implementation of GCQ in the metro.
The agency temporarily placed delineation cones from White Planes Avenue to Bonny Serrano Avenue in Quezon City to allot a lane for cyclists and users of electric scooters.
