BAGUIO CITY – The city government will prioritize the setting up of bicycle lanes worth P18 million in four major thoroughfares in the city.
City Administrator Engr. Bonifacio Dela Peña said the city is eyeing four roads for the installation of bike lanes. These are Naguilian Road, Marcos Highway (from Green Valley junction to the rotunda of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center), Loakan Road (from Scout Barrio to Session Road Circle), and Pacdal Rotunda.
Dela Peña said the city intends to purchase thermoplastic paints and accessories for bicycle lanes, two sets of thermoplastic paint machines, and two sets of road marking removers for the purpose, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvement, traffic signs pertaining to bicycles, and bicycle parking facilities.
The P18 million will come from the excess of the P20-million fund that was appropriated for the subsidy of public utility jeepney drivers. He said only P1.86 million is to be utilized for the purpose, thus a saving in the amount of 18.1 million which will now be used for the bike lanes project.
Other projects that will be funded by the said amount are the construction of the bridge connecting Maya and Aguila Streets at Dizon Subdivision Barangay; the installation of international standard road signs and symbols in the city; and electrical system of the temporary garbage station at Marcos Highway.
The city council approved the request of the executive body to re-appropriate the fund for the projects.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the project was deemed urgent as cycling has gained popularity as an alternative mode of transportation during quarantine.
He said this is the city’s way of promoting health and wellness and environmental protection to help improve the city’s air quality and at the same time introduce an alternative mode of transportation.
Magalong thanked the Baguio Daily Cycle Movement for its initiative in helping the city government to push through with the project.