DOTr Wants 2,400 Kilometers of Bike Lanes by 2028
Major cities are set to lead the expansion.
(SPOT.ph) Good news for cycling enthusiasts: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has an ambitious plan to establish 2,400 kilometers of protected and dedicated bike lanes nationwide by 2028.
According to DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, this initiative is part of DOTr's P5-billion Active Transport Project which seeks to promote an active and sustainable lifestyle among Filipinos. A 2023 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that one in three Filipino households owns at least one bicycle, reflecting the growing need for more bike lanes.
Bautista said the construction of bike lanes will prioritize major cities before extending to neighboring municipalities. Current bikeway programs in Manila, Quezon City, Lipa, Pampanga, and Laoag are already setting the foundation for this extensive network.
“We will do this all over the country. Inuuna muna natin major cities then susunod mga adjacent municipalities,” Bautista said during the inauguration of expanded bike lanes in Tagum and Davao cities.
To speed up the development of bike lanes, a P1 billion budget has been allocated for this year in the 2024 National Budget. Bautista added that walkways will also be enhanced for pedestrian safety under this initiative. “Aside from bike lanes, we construct ‘yung mga walkways and also other transport systems that do not require motorized or mechanized system.”
Also read: Bike Lanes Get P1-Billion Funding in 2024
To bike or not to bike?
However, the DOTr's vision seems to contrast with recent actions taken by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
It can be recalled that the MMDA banned e-bikes, e-trikes, and other non-motorized conveyances on major roads across Metro Manila in April, citing a significant increase in road accidents involving these vehicles.
By May, the MMDA proposed the possibility of removing bike lanes along EDSA in favor of an exclusive motorcycle lane, stating that bike lanes are underutilized with only 1,500 cyclists compared to 170,000 motorists daily (figures that have been refuted by cyclist groups). MMDA Chairman Don Artes said that bike lanes occupy only half of a lane, which he sees as a waste of valuable road space.
Both moves have drawn criticism from cycling groups, who view these as “a step backward.”
Also read: LIST: Here Are the Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities of 2023