The city government of San Juan will launch on Thursday (Sept. 17) the Philippine National Police (PNP)-San Juan Bike Patrollers to strictly implement the city’s ordinances on new normal, face shield, and anti-spitting.
Mayor Francis Zamora will lead the event which will take place at the Total Gas Station along Ortigas Avenue.
Zamora said that the police bike patrollers will be issued with brand-new body cameras for more accurate apprehension of violators.
He also ordered a stricter implementation of the precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to maintain the gains that the city achieved during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) declared in Metro Manila in early August.
The mayor approved the ordinances passed by the City Council against spitting in public places, non-wearing of face masks and face shields, and other precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.
“We have to be extra vigilant against COVID-19. Although the experts say we have flattened the curve, we want to make sure we defeat the pandemic so that everyone can live a better life,” Zamora said.
The biking public as well as the police bike patrollers will have a safer commute along the streets of San Juan with the installation of bollards to protect bike lanes from other vehicles plying the city streets.
He said that bicycles and e-scooters will be allowed on the bike lanes with maximum speed of 25 km/hr.
“Mobility is important and is one of our major learning during the pandemic. A lot of our frontliners who do not own cars bought bicycles to commute from home to work and back and it is only fitting that we make sure they are safe on our streets,” the mayor explained.
Zamora said that motorcycles will have their own special lane adjacent to the bike lane along Ortigas Avenue and eventually in other main roads around the city.
According to the San Juan Public Information Office (PIO), signages will also be installed for anti-spitting, non-wearing of facemasks and face shields with corresponding penalties.
To be launched also is the Greenhills Active Playground located inside Greenhills Shopping Center. It has a convenient space for bikers, joggers, and for people who want to have a workout throughout the day. Bike priority lanes inside the shopping center’s main roads are also installed and are linked to the city’s bike lanes along Ortigas and Wilson Streets.
“I am very thankful to the Greenhills Shopping Center, now called Greenhills for coming up with this space for San Juanenos, what we really need at this point in time are innovations and programs like this that would help us in our fight against the virus. Let us be active to stay healthy and fit,” Zamora said.