OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Last weekend, several cities in the Philippines celebrated World Bicycle Day by having events with cyclists. This is a very welcome development, which I hope provides a push in the right direction with encouraging more people to get into cycling again.
During the pandemic, there was a significant increase in people getting into cycling. Either as a way to commute, due to travel restrictions. Or for recreation, when travel was severely restricted, especially for international travel. Many took to cycling as a viable alternative.
Unfortunately, when the travel restrictions were lifted, there was a large drop in people regularly using their bicycles. Instead of wanting to take bike rides around town or the provinces, many took vacations in places they weren’t able to visit during the long lockdowns. While during the lockdowns people had to ride their bicycles, when the restrictions were lifted, many opted to return to driving their vehicles instead. A silver lining though, is many people still use their bicycles during weekends.
Am hopeful that with the renewed push by the government in providing bicycle lanes, it will not only encourage more people to use their bicycle for short commutes, but more importantly, make it safe and convenient for those who have continuously used their bicycle. Having functioning bicycle lanes is essential in ensuring people will continue to commute using their bicycle.
There is a thrust from the national government to promote cycling as a viable means of transportation. There is also a renewed push for cyclo-tourism. What we’ve been seeing that gels everything together, is the drive, coming from the LGUs. I believe this is key in making a cycling culture more permanent in the Philippines.
However, as I had mentioned in the past, it’s also important for the private sector to get involved in promoting a cycling culture in the Philippines. Safe bicycle parking spaces, lockers for employees who ride their bicycle to work and need to change, showers and changing rooms are some of the facilities that make it enticing for people to ride their bicycle to work. I know a company that provides meal coupons to their employees who ride their bicycle to work. Another company supplied bicycle helmets, while another company offered to help subsidize the purchase of bicycles. Whatever is done, what’s important is steps are taken to make it convenient for employees to ride their bicycle to work.
Ride lots, and wear your helmet!