MMDA Lets You Borrow Bikes for Free in Parts of Metro Manila

(SPOT.ph) As traffic continues to be a daily reality in Metro Manila, it pays to have more ways to get around the metro. Fortunately, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now offering one more option: bikes you can borrow for free.

MMDA’s free bike-sharing service has been available since June 23 at three locations in Manila and Quezon City. The service lets commuters borrow bikes for short-distance trips, with helmets already provided so you don't have to bring your own just to use the service.

While we still have a long way to go before Metro Manila becomes bike-friendly, this is a welcome step towards better mobility for Filipinos.

Also read: DOTr Wants 2,400 Kilometers of Bike Lanes by 2028

The free bike sharing services are available every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in these three locations:

• Bike Shelter 1: Under Luzon Avenue Flyover, Commonwealth Avenue - Luzon Avenue Station, Quezon City

• Bike Shelter 2: Under EDSA-Ortigas Flyover, EDSA-Ortigas Station, Quezon City

• Bike Shelter 3: Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard/Quirino Station, Manila

To borrow a bike for free, you’ll need to fill out the bike-sharing form at these shelters and present your latest valid ID. You will also be given a helmet along with the bike.

Keep in mind that you can only borrow a bike for two to four hours. Because of this limit, the service works best for quick errands and short commutes rather than all-day use.

To return the bike, note the following steps:

1. Return the bike and helmet to the shelter where you borrowed it

2. Take a picture of the bike you borrowed

3. Claim your valid ID

4. Answer the Client Survey Form

If the borrowed bike is lost or stolen, borrowers must file a report at the nearest police station, then head to the MMDA Legal and Legislative Affairs Office to present the documents relevant to the incident.

MMDA also said that if the bike and helmet are not returned within the allowed period, they will be taken and returned to their corresponding shelter. The process for this isn’t clear yet, but it’s likely that bike shelter representatives will contact you so they know where to get the bike.

The free bike-sharing services come at a perfect time, as the MMDA previously opened free shower facilities for cyclists and commuters passing through Ortigas back in March. Hopefully, we’ll see more bike shelters and commuter facilities open across Metro Manila soon.

Also read: LIST: Here Are the Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities of 2023