By Chito Chavez The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday urged all local government units (LGUs) to install bicycle lanes in their local roads as many workers are expected to use bicycles as they return to work on June 1, when Metro Manila will be under general community quarantine (GCQ). In an advisory, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año directed the provincial governors, city and municipal mayors to coordinate with neighboring LGUs to connect bicycle lanes and establish a bicycle road network. Año issued the call as many workers “resort to biking’’ on their way to work due to the limited mass transportation. He noted that the local governments must also ensure that all bicycle lanes are free from any obstruction to prevent any road accidents. Año stressed that “bicycles as a mode of transportation is encouraged by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).’’ “As per the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine issued by the IATF, the use of bicycles and other non-motorized forms of transportation is strongly encouraged,” said Año. In this new normal, Año has enjoined the public to use bikes as an alternative mode of transportation saying it is good for the health and less costly since there is no need to buy fuel. He said the LGUs must also enact ordinances to impose reasonable penalties on violations in the use of the bike lanes to ensure that both motorists and cyclists follow the regulations along the said lanes. The DILG chief noted that the LGUs should follow the Department of Transportation (DOTr’s) design approach of setting up plastic bollards, stencil markings, and signage in the designated bike lanes for the safety of the bicycling public especially in major thoroughfares where fast-moving buses and other huge vehicles are passing through the same road. He also reminded LGUs to strictly implement health and safety protocols including the mandatory wearing of face masks of the persons using said lanes and in all public areas. Motorcycle taxis still prohibited DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said motorcycle taxis hailed through ride-sharing apps such as Angkas are still not allowed during GCQ and MECQ under current IATF guidelines. The DILG, through Memorandum Circular no. 2020-083, directed all LGUs to strictly prohibit the operation of motor taxis as part of the regulatory measures in public transportation in areas under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Malaya added that motorcycle back ride is prohibited even for married couples as part of the physical distancing measures as this allows prolonged close contact between two people and will lead to possible transmission of COVID-19. Among the alternative modes of transportation suggested by the DOTr during the post-pandemic period are the use of bikes and modernized PUVs as these have less contact with other people and lessens the risk of spreading the virus among passengers.