The San Juan City government on Thursday has set up special lanes designated for motorcycles and bicycles along portions of Ortigas Avenue.
Mayor Francis Zamora said they have used the third lane of the thoroughfare for bicycles and motorcycles to ensure the safety of cyclists and motorcycle riders from cars, buses, and trucks that ply the said avenue
“The first two lanes are dedicated for cars. The third lane, the left side from the bollards, is for motorcycles, and the right side is for bicycles and scooters,” Zamora said.
Ortigas Avenue is a 15.5-kilometer highway that runs across the cities of San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Quezon City in Metro Manila, and municipalities of Cainta, Taytay, and Antipolo City in the Province of Rizal.
It is one of the busiest major thoroughfares in the metropolis, serving motorists coming to and from the Rizal province.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia said they will coordinate with Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos to connect the bike lanes and motorcycle lanes along Ortigas Avenue.
Zamora said the local government will observe the outcome of the special lanes and will eventually add more bike and motorcycle lanes should they be proven effective in ensuring the safety of the public and not cause buildup of vehicles along city streets.
“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,” Zamora said.