By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY – The city government here declared every Sunday as Bicycle Day to encourage the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation, and not only for personal benefit but also to help improve the city’s air quality.
The City Council approved an ordinance authored by Councilors Maria Mylen Victoria Yaranon and Levy Lloyd Orcales, declaring every Sunday as Bicycle Day in the city.
They said it will be the policy of the local government to declare every Sunday as Bicycle Day in the city to promote the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation among the people because of the limited mass public transportation on the said day.
They encourage all residents to make it a point to use bicycles as a mode of transportation every Sunday to help in empowering them to practice healthy lifestyle and reduce the emission of pollutants in the air.
The ordinance tasked the City Mayor’s Office, with the assistance of the City Engineering Office (CEO), Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO), Baguio City Police Office – Traffic Enforcement Unit (BCPO-TEU), and the Department of Transportation (DOTR), to implement the pertinent provisions of the measure and make sure that the needed bicycle facilities are established in feasible roads in the city.
The ordinance stated that the bicycle facilities include bicycle lanes in all roads in the city; physical dividers or reflectorized painted lines, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvement, traffic signages pertaining to bicycles and bicycle parking facilities.
Last Sunday, hundreds of bicycle enthusiasts actively participated in the celebration of World Bicycle Day where most of them roamed around the city using their bicycles.