By Zaldy Comanda BAGUIO CITY – The city government is encouraging the residents to use bicycles as a mode of transportation until such time that the mass public transport system returns to normal. (PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN) An approved resolution authored by Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria Yaranon stated that the period when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was being implemented was a time for innovative and out-of-the-box solutions to address a number of problems that the city was facing. Thus, Yaranon explained that the use of bicycles may be a low-tech solution, but it will not only address the problems of the riding public but carries with it other advantages as well. She pointed out that the use of bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation will provide convenient travel in the city during the ECQ and general community quarantine (GCQ), and until the restrictions on the city’s public transportation system have been relaxed and lifted. Earlier, the city government allowed the temporary operation of bicycle supply and repair shops, textile supply stores and electrical appliance supply and repair shops to operate every Mondays to Wednesdays of the week during the ECQ period. Baguio City is among the few localities in the country in the extended ECQ that will expire on May 15 where the regulations and limitations imposed on the city’s public transportation will continue up to the said date unless there will be upcoming decision otherwise that will declare the shortening of the ECQ. According to the resolution, the transportation challenges faced by the public will continue up to the lifting of the ECQ as the suspension of the city’s public transportation was part of the precautionary measures that will prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).