To promote road safety and support alternative transportation, senatorial aspirant Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. is calling on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to incorporate designated lay-bys for motorcycles and bicycles in both existing and future road projects.
“We are a motorcycle-riding public. We need to make roads, bridges, and flyovers more motorcycle-friendly,” Abalos said.
“We should aspire to be the most motorcycle- and bicycle-friendly nation in the world,” he said.
Motorcycle taxis have become an essential part of the daily commute for millions of Filipinos, according to Abalos, a former Mandaluyong City Mayor and DILG secretary.
“With approximately 70,000 motorcycle taxis in the country, their role in easing the burden of commuters and supporting economic activity cannot be understated,” he stressed.
As MMDA chairman, Abalos pushed for emergency lay-by areas where riders could safely take cover during downpours instead of stopping in unsafe locations.
These designated areas are crucial in ensuring rider safety and maintaining smooth traffic flow, he noted.
The lay-by areas established under his leadership include those located under the Quezon Avenue flyover, as well as in other strategic locations such as Ortigas, Santolan, Kamuning, Kamias, C-5, and Commonwealth Avenue. These zones are marked with entrance and exit signs to guide motorcycle riders.
Abalos is advocating for the expansion of these motorcycle lay-by zones beyond Metro Manila, urging the DPWH to implement similar facilities in urban centers nationwide. Additionally, he is calling for the integration of bicycle lay-bys in every road infrastructure project, ensuring safer roads for cyclists.
“Our roads should cater not just to cars and trucks but also to the millions of Filipinos who rely on motorcycles and bicycles daily,” Abalos emphasized. “It’s time we make our roads, bridges, and flyovers friendlier to motorcycle riders and cyclists alike.”
Beyond lay-by zones, Abalos also spearheaded initiatives to enhance Metro Manila’s urban landscape by developing pocket gardens under flyovers, improving air quality, and beautifying roadways.
Having served as a legal counsel for transport groups such as tricycle operators and drivers’ associations (Toda) and other marginalized sectors, Abalos is well aware of the daily struggles faced by riders.
Recently, Abalos was named Road Safety Ambassador by the Motorcycle Philippines Federation and the Motorcycle Road Safety Warriors. PR