By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senators have called on government agencies to take the lead in promoting the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transport following the COVID-19 outbreak. Workers ride their bicycles home in Manila on May 20, 2020. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN) Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said on Friday, May 29, that the government should ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place to accommodate the surge in the sale and use of bicycles. Mass transport operations are still limited in light of the physical distancing and health protocols being enforced due to the persisting pandemic. Aside from dedicated lanes for their use, Recto said secure parking spaces for bicycles will encourage more people to use bikes to get to their workplaces. “It is not enough that we set aside passageways for bicycles. We should also see to it that the public places they’re going to have spots where they can leave their bikes safely,” he said. Even the Senate, he said, has yet to allocate a parking space for bicycles in its compound in Pasay City. Recto said bike lanes and parking lots are easy to construct and will not cost much. “If we are willing to borrow P11.5 billion for every kilometer of subway, then this is something we can afford,” he told the government. Malls, schools, and places and worship should also be encouraged to designate free parking spaces for bicycles. “Malaking kaswapangan na kung pati bisikleta sisingilin mo pa. Napakaliit na espasyo lang mao-okupa. Besides, cars can cross-subsidize the expenses in maintaining mall parking lots,” he said. Senator Francis Tolentino also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to designate and enhance bicycle lanes in Metro Manila. During a Senate hearing on May 28, the former MMDA chairman said existing PUV and bus lanes within Metro Manila that are currently unused because of the community quarantine can be converted into bicycle lanes. By putting up more bicycle lanes, Tolentino said employees will be encouraged to travel to and from their work via bicycles. “What we did was not experimental, taon ‘yong ginamit. Signages buhay pa. We have to do away with the notion, adjust or experiment. Totoo na ito. The new normal. Bicycle is part of the innovation,” said the neophyte senator, referring to the bike lines established along EDSA by the MMDA under his helm. He also said it would not be anymore difficult for agencies to build bike lanes since cities have passed ordinances promoting the use of bicycles. Tolentino said encouraging Filipinos to ride their bicycles to work would “greatly help address the impending transportation woes” in Metro Manila, when it shifts to a general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier said that over two million commuters are expected to use public transportation in Metro Manila when mass transport operations resume under the GCQ.