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| (Image Source: Carmudi Philippines) |
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) in partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and SM Supermalls have officially launched a passport-sized Active Transport Manual booklet for cyclists, motorists and other road users. Released in English and Filipino, the manual contains important safety guidelines and pointers that are part of DOTr's Active Transport Guidelines including the use of safety gears and hand signals, regular bicycle inspection and maintenance and other road and traffic protocols.
Launched last April 21, 2020, the initiative was supported by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH) and the Move As One transport coalition. With 140,000 published copies to be distributed in all SM malls nationwide. The project also came amidst the widespread calls for proper bicycle infrastructure in Metro Manila and urban areas as more Filipinos preferred biking as their new mode of transportation during the pandemic. Aside from the Active Transport Manual, DOTr and SM Prime's corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares released two videos as posted in the official Facebook page of MNL Moves, A Bike Rider's Journey and SM Cares Cycling Safety Tips which is the Active Transport Manual's animated version.
Since the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine last March 2020, Filipinos are resorting to travel for essential goods and options using their bicycles due to the lack of public transportation options. They later continued to prefer cycling in major thoroughfares even in succeeding granular lockdown phases where some forms of public transportation have resumed their operations. DOTr Secretart Arthur Tugade called on the public, more particularly motorists and cyclists, to help make the "citizen-driven" bike lane project succeed. “To our countrymen, help us make this project succeed. Let us make this a citizen-driven initiative. Nananawagan din ‘ho ako sa ating mga kababayang nagmamaneho ng mga de-motor na sasakyan na pairalin ang pagbibigayan sa kalsada, lalo na kung may bike lane na nakatayo sa mga ito. Gawin nating ligtas ang ating mga sarili, pati na rin ang buhay ng mga namimisikleta at pedestrian,” Tugade said.
In terms of bike lanes, Tugade noted that there are complete 296 kilometer bike lanes with pavement markings, installed bollards, curbs and solar studs so far and hopes to accomplish 535 kilometers of bike lanes in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao before the year ends. MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos also echoes the agency's support to DOTr's efforts in promoting road safety among all road users and stated that the establishment of the bike lanes is a continuing joint effort of the DOTr and DPWH amidst the pandemic. “The MMDA has been coordinating among agencies, local government units, and cycling advocates. The MMDA fully supports this initiative of the DOTr, in partnership with the DILG, DPWH, DOH, Move as One Coalition, and the SM Supermalls, aimed at promoting road safety, courtesy, and etiquette, not just for bikers, but for all road users,” Abalos said.
