Heads up cyclists! Make It Makati announced on Friday, Feb. 10, that all bike lanes along Ayala Avenue will become shared lanes or "sharrows" staring Feb. 15, following the influx of commuters in Makati City.
In its Facebook page, Make It Makati said the change will accommodate both bikers and more commuters riding public transportation. It aims to improve the city's traffic flow.
"Shared Lane Markings (SLMs) or “sharrows” are road markings with a sign showing a bicycle under two wide arrows that’s painted on the road and used to indicate a shared lane environment for bicycles and vehicles," Make It Makati said.
"This initiative is being done to better serve the commuting public and in preparation for the provision of more and bigger transit sheds along Ayala Avenue. We remain cognizant of everyone’s needs, especially the biking community, and this is why the city is implementing an organized way of accommodating more commuters through sharrows," it added.
Despite of the upcoming change in the city's traffic flow, Make it Makati explained that Makati City continues to be a bike-friendly city with the creation of numerous cyclist-oriented projects and infrastructures such as bike racks, bike repair stations, various sharrows in the Makati City Business District (MCBD), Moovr app bike rental service, and NBO Bike Lessons during the Makati Street Meet.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when public transportation has been halted as part of the national government's health protocols, more commuters transitioned to cycling as their newest mode of transportation not just for leisure but also their means of going to and from their offices and work areas.
As the number of infections continue to decline not just in Metro Manila but almost in the entire country, more and more public utility vehicles are now once again becoming available to the riding public.