"THIS is good news to the biking community, which has grown significantly during this time of Covid. More people are now using a bicycle to go to work and in their daily travels. It is important that there is a network of bicycle lanes to ensure continuity through various localities, and the safety of bikers.”
Thus said Senator Pia Cayetano, sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1582, otherwise known as the Safe Pathways Act, which seeks to provide a network of safe pathways for those who prefer to walk, bike, or use other non-motorized vehicles to their regular destinations.
The bill was approved on third and final reading with 23 affirmative votes, no negative vote, and no abstention.
Cayetano, who was in this city on January 29, 2021 to distribute bicycles to frontliners under her “Bikes for Hope-Pilipinas in Action” advocacy, added that “slow streets” is a relatively new concept in the country that would be devoted to pedestrians and cyclists while limiting access to motor vehicles.
A health advocate and a cyclist, Cayetano said the bill would promote multiple health benefits and help improve the quality of life for Filipinos due to reduced carbon emissions and less use of energy and resources.
"The passage of the bill is good news to the growing biking community all over the country, especially in Pampanga, which is a favorite destination for bikers, including myself, and a known training hub for Filipino athletes," she noted.
Under the bill, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways, in coordination with local government units, will identify and create a network of bicycle lanes connecting to essential destinations such as workplaces, medical facilities or groceries, schools, banks, and other similar places.
Once enacted into law, the government will mandate public places, government offices, schools, places of work, and commercial establishments like malls, banks, and hospitals to provide adequate parking spaces for bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles. (JTD)