Thursday, July 26, 2007 Survey: Bikers are braving city's main streets By Grace L. Plata
THERE are two to three bikers passing through the city's main streets in a single minute, says a survey result of bicycle load count in eight areas in the city. The study was cited by Councilor Leonardo Avila III in support of the proposed bike lanes ordinance.
The survey, prepared by the Support Services and Coordinative Section of the City Administrator's office, was made in the areas of Quezon-Boulevard-Roxas Avenue, Magsaysay Avenue, Agdao Flyocer-Leon Garcia Streets, Quimpo Boulevard-Bolton Bridge, R. Castillo-Sasa, Lanang Junction, Mc Arthur Highway Junction and Quimpo Boulevard Junction.
Avila said these statistics will strongly prove the need to establish bike lanes in the city's main thoroughfares to protect the bikers.
The ordinance establishing bike lanes passed first reading during the City Council's regular session Tuesday and was referred to the committee on energy, transportation, and communication chaired by Councilor Pilar Braga.
The proposal to establish bike lanes, however, is not a new move as Mayor Rodrigo Duterte already issued Executive Order 21 back in 2005, creating the technical working group (TWG) that will tackle and draft the bicycle lane ordinance. The survey cited by Avila is part of the output of the TWG.
The ordinance will provide for the establishment of lanes in highways and signage in small roads would be an integral part of the Traffic Management System.
This is patterned after the initiative of the Metro Manila Development Authority, which in efforts to minimize traffic congestion and pollution has encouraged the use of bikes.
Bikes, unlike motor vehicles, do not emit harmful substances in the air.
The move, Avila said, is supported by the Federation of Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts (Force) and other cycling groups.
