THE Cebu City Government has identified the routes for the bicycle lanes and these will be completed in August.

Cebu City Planning and Development Office (CCPDO) assistant head Anne Cuizon said the routes have five phases.

The first phase to be completed is the city center phase, or the core bicycle routes. In the first phase, the bicycle lanes will pass through Barangay Labangon, Sitio Banawa of Barangay Guadalupe, Fuente Osmeña Circle, Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu Business Park, Barangay Mabolo, New Imus Road, M.J. Cuenco Ave. and Barangay Sto. Niño.

After the city center phase is established, the bicycle lanes will then branch out to other phases—Barangay Lahug (second phase), Barangay Talamban (third phase) and N. Bacalso Ave. (fourth phase).

The last phase will be the lane extension toward the South Road Properties (SRP).

Cuizon said the CCPDO is now polishing and finalizing the master plan for the whole bicycle network.

She said it took time for them to identify the route as they also considered the routes for the Bus Rapid Transit system.

Three-city sync

The bicycle lanes in Cebu City must be synchronized with the ones in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, said Cuizon.

On July 28, 2020, a coordination meeting took place for the establishment of an in-sync bicycle lanes among the three cities.

In the meeting, representatives from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu presented their respective bicycle lane routes.

Cuizon said the CCPDO has been doing the corrections on its master plan and the office will include the experts’ suggestions.

The establishment of bicycle lanes must be planned properly, said Cuizon. She said the bicycle lanes should be for long-term use.

Cuizon reminds the bikers that the establishment of bicycle lanes means they have the same responsibility as those driving four-wheeled vehicles—they must observe traffic laws and respect motorists and fellow bikers. (JJL)