Transport group urges government to protect cyclists

As the country celebrated World Bicycle Day last week, a transport group urged the government to build protected bike lanes that save lives and ensure that “Filipino cyclists arrive alive”.

In a statement, Move as One transport coalition said the national government should incorporate active transport infrastructure in P264 Billion worth of DPWH roads and bridges as required under the 2022 budget.

The coalition said the number of households with bicycles in urban areas and NCR more than doubled this year.

Citing a survey made by the Social Weather Stations, the coalition pointed out two of out five cycling households now riding more frequently.

“Indeed, many Filipinos discovered the joys of cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic. [but] too many cyclists are dying on Philippine roads due to the lack of protected bike lanes,” the statement reads.

Adding, “Filipino cyclists should arrive alive… we demand more than just thoughts and prayers from the government for the cyclists who have died on our unsafe roads”.

Data from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) showed that s total of 82 cyclists deaths and 4,588 injuries from 2019 to 2021. The coalition wants these accidents to be classified as “crashes” or traffic violence and not what appears on news reports of drunk driving and even call some of them as accidents that just happen. Jinky Jorgio