THE Davao City government has apprehended over a hundred motorists for using and obstructing bike lanes in the city.
City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Head Dionisio Abude said a total of 156 individuals were apprehended for obstruction and/or have illegally parked on the bike lanes since the implementation of penalties among violators in May this year.
Meanwhile, a total of 45 violators were caught and fined from June 12 to 19.
“Kana siya medyo effective na sya kay naa may area nga kanunay nato ma-monitor. Naa na pud ta’y na-apprehend nato nga violation kabahin sa illegal parking, obstruction sa bike lanes,” Abude said.
(Our constant monitoring in some areas has been effective with apprehensions on illegal parking and obstruction of bike lanes.)
Abude said car drivers who illegally park on bike lanes are charged with illegal parking and fined P500. They may also face charges for disregarding traffic signs.
The traffic official said these apprehensions should serve as a warning to motorists in the city.
The 19th City Council is currently revising the provisions of the Bicycle Ordinance.
Once enacted, violators will be fined at least P1,000. Abude hoped for the immediate passage of the modified ordinance for more specific bike lanes guidelines in the city.
Abude said the proposed ordinance will undergo one more committee hearing before it will be lobbied on the plenary for deliberation.
The city government is now collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Davao Region to start laying the groundwork for the installation of designated bicycle lanes along Carlos P. Garcia Highway (Diversion Road), Davao-Bukidnon Highway, Matina Aplaya to Ecoland Drive, C. Bangoy St., Ecowest Drive, and Tulip Drive.
Abude, meanwhile, cautioned bikers to stay safe on the roads by always wearing protective gear and refraining from going beyond the designated lanes.
“Dili lang ta gusto manakop, pero gusto nato i-educate atong mga motorista. Dili gyud pwede mo parking o mo-obstruct sila except loading and unloading passengers,” he said.
(We do not only apprehend because we want to, but we would like also to educate our motorists. We do not allow them to park or obstruct [bike lanes] except for loading and unloading of passengers.)
The CTTMO is also expanding its drive to educate more Dabawenyos about the safety and the proper use of bike lanes through information dissemination and the utilization of available social media platforms.
The creation of the bike lanes is in accordance with the order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government urging all local government units to establish bicycle lanes in all local roads to support those who will bike to their work destination due to the reduced capacity of public transportation under the general community quarantine.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, signed the suspension through Executive Order 40, series of 2020, or "An order providing for the suspension of bicycle registration, bicycle registration fees, and allowing the use of bicycle lanes in the City of Davao," which was publicly released on June 19, 2020.