P1-B allotted for development of bike lanes

The 2024 National Budget has allocated at least P1 billion to speed up the development of protected bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways.

The 2024 budget is a huge jump from the original P500 million proposals for the Active Transport and Safe Pathways Programs (ATSPP), according to Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo.

Rillo said the ATSPP assures Filipinos that cycling is a sustainable alternative mode of mobility.

“We are determined to promote cycling and lessen harmful motor vehicle emissions in the interest of public health,” he explained.

The P1 billion budget is on top of the existing funding of P2 billion in 2022 and P705 million in 2023 for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways in highly urbanized cities.

The budget includes the procurement of bicycle racks, the upgrade of temporary bike lanes into permanent ones, and the placement of other support facilities.  It also ensures that the new infrastructure will be maintained and protected – even if it just means providing users with shade courtesy of trees in urban areas.

Pedestrian walkways and crossings will also be built with persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, children in strollers, and tourists with luggage in mind.

The ATSPP has established over 500 bike lanes in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, with more to come this year following the planned construction of 400 kilometers more of bike lanes.