Belmonte to give out free helmets to cash-strapped cyclists
Mayor Joy Belmonte vowed to give free helmets to cyclists, particularly to “those who are too financially vulnerable to comply” with the ordinance.
Belmonte said the city government would still give bikers "an ample time to comply" pending the final approval of the ordinance’s Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Belmonte also bared that instead of the original P1,000 to P5,000 fines against violators, the city council already agreed to lower the amount following appeals from various groups.
On Friday, personnel from the Quezon City government gave away free helmets to cyclists who could not afford to buy one, as wearing of the safety gear is now mandatory with the passing of an ordinance.
Ret. Gen. Elmo San Diego, head of the city’s Public Order and Safety who led the distribution of the helmets, said 250 of the 2,000 recently procured helmets were already given to bikers who were on the road with no head safety gear.
Most of the recipients were constructions workers, students and the “financially challenged.”
“Halo halo na . Yung walang suot na helmet kasi wala pambili, sila target beneficiaries natin (We have a mix of beneficiaries. But those who were not wearing helmets because they could not afford are our target beneficiaries),” San Diego said in a text message, noting that both city and non-city residents received free helmets.
Bikers in Quezon City were told to pull over but instead of getting citation tickets, they got a free helmet. San Diego added that they will “request” for more helmets that will be given away “as needed.”
Although wearing helmets when biking is already required under the Road Safety Ordinance, the local government said the city council saw “the need for another policy to further encourage the helmets as protection, with more people now traveling by bicycles.”
While the measure earned praises from many cyclists, others expressed concern that some might not be able to afford one, especially in this time of crisis.