By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asked on Saturday, June 13 the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to "further study" the planned construction of protected bike lanes along EDSA.
The number of cyclists increased on the first day of GCQ in Metro Manila along Pasay City on Monday, June 1, 2020. (MB Photo by Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
He made the call after DOTR and MMDA both agreed to expeditiously establish protected bike lanes on the roads.
"I don't like the idea of a bike lane in EDSA. If we will allow bikes in EDSA, I think only to cross just like pedestrian lanes but not to ply the highway," Barbers said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin.
"I think it's a dangerous proposal. Side streets or secondary roads are much more safer for bikes than EDSA," he added.
Reports earlier said the DOTr and MMDA agreed to start constructing protected bike lanes along the entire stretch of EDSA for the benefit of cyclists and pedestrians.
In a statement, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said MMDA chairman Danilo Lim was one with him in pushing for the setting up of protected bike lanes "on the roads and not on sidewalks.”
Barbers said the two agencies should fully ensure the public safety should it pushes through with its bike lanes initiatives.
"Masyado delikado, eh parang sinabi mo puwede mag swim sa isang pool na maraming sharks (It is dangerous, as if you're saying that swimming in a pool with many sharks is allowed). You have to navigate carefully for your safety. Ok lang kung tatawid (It is okay if you will just cross), for example, Shaw Boulevard Crossing, or Ortigas Crossing, Santolan crossing, P. Tuazon etc.," he explained.
"They should study that further ..yun lang Seatbelt Law eh hirap na ienforce, pati yun Smoke Belching (They are having hard time to enforce the Seatbelt Law and the Smoke Belching) , now they will allow bikes? Kundi ka mamatay sa aksidente sa EDSA, eh lung cancer ang ikamamatay mo (If you will not die of accident in EDSA, you will die of lung cancer)," Barbers said.
But, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles cheered at the planned establishment of protected bike lanes.
"As a cyclist and multi-modal transportation advocate, I am elated with the plans to construct protected bike lanes through EDSA. A cyclist biking at a leisurely speed of 20kph is faster and cheaper than the MRT (Metro Rail Transit)," he said in a separate text message.
"I hope that establishments will begin to provide safe bike parking and locker rooms and shower rooms to support this healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyle," he added.
He earlier encouraged the MRT riders to turn to bicycles as health-and-economic friendly mode of transportation in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Nograles is the principal author of House Bill No. 2520, which seeks the creation of the Local Bikeways Office (LBO) and establishment of infrastructure to promote the use of bicycles. His bill is among the nine pro-bicycle measures approved by the House Committee on Transportation during a virtual hearing last month.
The partylist lawmaker cited the need to set up protected bike lanes along major thoroughfares like EDSA to ensure the safety of the bicycle riders.
"Ang number one problem is safe ba? Ang litmus test natin na safe na mag-bike kung masasabi mo sa anak mo, "Sige Anak, magbike ka na papuntang school." Yun talaga 'yun ang gusto natin na maabot na it is safe for children to bike all the way to school. Pag naabot po natin yan then I think we have successfully created a safe biking culture sa ating bansa," Nograles said in radio interview on May 31.
(The number one problem is is it safe? Our litmus test here is it is safe to bike when you can tell your child, "Yes, child, you can bike going to school." That's what we want to reach, that it is safe for children to bike all the way to school. Once we have reached that, then I think we will have successfully created a safe biking culture in our country.)
He expressed optimism that within this year, the consolidated bill seeking to promoting the use of bicycles will be enacted into law.