DILG asks LGUs to set up bike lanes

May 31, 2020

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday urged local government units (LGUs) 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.

In an Advisory, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año directed provincial governors, city and municipal mayors to coordinate with neighboring LGUs to connect bicycle lanes and establish a bicycle road network.

“Because of limited mass transportation, most people will resort to biking as a means of going to and from work. LGUs, therefore, have to be ready with the bike lanes in their areas to ensure the safety of the cyclists,” he said.

Año said LGUs must also ensure that all bicycle lanes are free from any obstruction to prevent any untoward road accidents.

According to the DILG Chief, bicycle as a mode of transportation is encouraged by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

“As per the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine issued by the IATF, the use of bicycles and other non-motorized forms of transportation is strongly encouraged,” he said.

"In this new normal, we want to enjoin everyone to use bikes,” he added.

LGUs must also enact ordinances to impose reasonable penalties on violations in the use of the bike lanes to ensure that both motorists and cyclists follow the regulations along the said lanes, according to the secretary.

LGUs should also follow the Department of Transportation (DOTr’s) design approach of putting up plastic bollards, stencil markings, and signage in the designated bike lanes for the safety of the bicycling public especially in major thoroughfares where fast-moving buses and other huge vehicles are passing through the same road.

He reminded LGUs to strictly implement health and safety protocols including the mandatory wearing of face masks of the persons using said lanes and in all public areas.

As the Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon will shift back to GCQ by June 1, the DILG reminded that motor taxis hailed through motorcycle ride-sharing apps such as Angkas are still not allowed during GCQ and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) under current IATF guidelines.

The DILG, through Memorandum Circular no. 2020-083, directed all LGUs to strictly prohibit the operation of motor taxis as part of the regulatory measures in public transportation in areas under the MECQ and GCQ.

Motorcycle back ride is prohibited even for married couples as part of the physical distancing measures as this allows prolonged close contact between two people and will lead to possible transmission of COVID-19.

“While we understand the request of many of our kababayan, back ride is a clear violation of physical distancing and it will be impossible for the police and our traffic enforcers to check each and every motorcycle if these are married couples,” Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said.

“If we grant one exemption, it will open the floodgates to violations by those who are not allowed. The health risks outweigh the benefits,” he added.

Among the alternative modes of transportation suggested by the DOTr during the post-pandemic period are the use of bikes and modernized PUVs as these have less contact with other people and it lessens the risk of spreading the virus among passengers. Ella Dionisio/DMS