DAVAO City joined in the celebration of the recently concluded World Car Free Day, which encouraged motorists to give up their cars for a day and instead use public transport, bicycle, or just walk.
The World Car Free Day is celebrated every September 22.
The City Information Office (CIO) came up with the "Share the Road" video information campaign as the city government of Davao's way to also support the event.
With the bike lanes ordinance being implemented in Davao City, cyclists have at last earned their rightful place on the road. They have been clamoring for it for several years.
The Covid-19 pandemic turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it triggered the need for bike lanes all the more due to social distancing protocol and limitation in people's mobility.
Biking, which is also a great form of exercise, is also helpful in keeping a person fit and healthy.
It's a win-win solution for everybody to have the bike lanes in place to protect all of its users and the rest of the motorists.
The call to share the road is also a call for responsible driving. Sad to say, there are still some motorists who tend to act high and mighty with their four-wheeled vehicles or their motorcycles and steal the lanes of the bikers. Such arrogance is uncalled for. Such disrespect is unwarranted. They can still reach their destination even without usurping the space meant for the cyclists.
Sharing the road requires discipline and a sense of responsibility.
I don't bike. As a child, I tried to learn how to bike but it is just not my thing. I seem not to have the balance it requires. But my husband and our two sons love biking.
I believe in cycling not just as a sport but also as a mode of safe transportation and exercise. I've met a lot of cycling friends and advocates in my two decades of sportswriting.
I have deep respect for two staunch supporters of cycling in the city - the late Salvador "Jun" Paholio Jr. and the late councilor Leonardo Avila III. Whenever I think of cycling, their names always come to mind. They lived their lives fighting for the rights of cyclists and promoting the sport down to the grassroots level. They must be smiling from ear to ear seeing that their bike lanes dream has come true and the younger generation of their families can reap its benefits.
A great salute to the City Government of Davao, to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for fulfilling this dream.