By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
The Quezon City local government announced on Monday, Oct. 17, that more on-street bike facilities will be constructed in the city.
The city government and the Department of Public Order and Safety-Green Transport Office (DPOS-GTO) recently provided “grade-separated” crossings in busy intersections of the city's major roads by installing bike ramps on footbridges and in an underpass to make bike crossing more convenient.
A total of five crossings in the city have bike ramps, including the underpass and footbridges in Quezon Memorial Center along Commonwealth Avenue, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center along Quezon Avenue, and the University of the Philippines (UP) Town Center along Katipunan Avenue.
The local government said it will also establish additional concrete plant box barriers to make the bicycle lane "more attractive and safer."
The Quezon City Parks Development and Administration Department (PDAD) plans to place an additional 210 plant box barriers along Commonwealth Avenue.
The said plant barriers will replace the plastic barriers used as bicycle lane separators on the road.
Meanwhile, Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo said the construction of the bicycle lane's second phase is currently ongoing.
The second phase of the bicycle lane network will interconnect with the first phase to reach more streets along residential and commercial areas.
"Our vision is to make Quezon City bike-friendly and eco-friendly with accessible and safe facilities for bikers and pedestrians, that is why we keep on implementing projects to improve our bike lane network," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Belmonte also encouraged the public to ride bicycles as alternative transportation because it is eco-friendly, affordable, and can improve one’s health.