Rama, council see eye to eye

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has nothing against the creation of bicycle lanes along the city’s major thoroughfares. In fact, he prefers this to the building of flyovers.

That’s why the mayor supports the move of the City Council to seek technical and financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for a feasibility study on the matter.

Rama said he will also ask the Cebu Port Authority to create bicycle lanes and a jogging area near the Compania Maritima, which is located near the City Hall.

“Kanang flyover man gud mo-fly over ta ana unya mo-jump over pa gyud. More or less I am for a bicycle lane,” he said in his regular news conference yesterday.

Road widening

However, Rama said roads should be widened first before bicycle lanes can be created.

The proposed bicycle lanes will run from the Plaza Independencia to the North Reclamation Area, then to Juan Luna Ave., Busay and Ayala Heights.

Last week, the council passed Councilor Nida Cabrera’s resolution, asking DOTC to help the City Government come up with a feasibility study for the creation of bicycle lanes by extending technical and financial assistance.

Cabrera said the City would be willing to work with DOTC and other financial institutions like the World Bank for the undertaking.

The World Bank, Cabrera said, helped Marikina City in creating a 5.2-kilometer bike lane.

Cabrera, who heads the council’s committee on environment, wants the bicycle lanes to be implemented soon so the City can fulfill its mandate to ensure sustainable development.