By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
The Manila City government is studying proposals to set up bike lanes in the city's thoroughfares amid restrictions on public transportation during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
(Manila City Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO )
In his city address on Wednesday (May 27), Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso said he attended a meeting with bike enthusiasts, including Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi, about the proposed "protected and dedicated" bikeway system in the city.
As most of public transport operations remain suspended with only tricycles allowed to operate during MECQ, the group said bike lanes along the corridor and intersections of U.N. Avenue to Quirino Avenue in Manila should be set up.
There should be physical separators between bike lanes and carriageways and specialized signage and signals for bikers, the group added.
Bikers must only exit lanes at eight intersections that will be set up to ensure safety and order in the Philippine capital's streets, should the project be implemented.
Domagoso said it would "make sense" to establish bike lanes because many workers have turned to using their bikes to get around after the ECQ was implemented.
The Manila mayor said he is hoping that the project will be implemented "as soon as possible."
Recently, the Metro Manila Development Authority held a dry run after setting up a bike lane along EDSA.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases encouraged the use of bikes for transport amid public transport restrictions under MECQ.
The restrictions on public transportation is expected to be relaxed as more parts of the country may transition to GCQ.
Members of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) unanimously voted to recommend implementing the GCQ in the metropolis after the MECQ ends at the end of the month.
However, they said they will recommend that buses and jeeps remain banned in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).