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Marikina City is carving out a 66-kilometer lane from its thoroughfare for the exclusive use of bicycles as an alternative transport to mitigate the effects of surging world oil prices. Continue below.

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Ms. Carlota Contreras, officer-in-charge of the Marikina City Bikeways Office, said the bikeways project began when the Department of Public Works and Highways proposed a pilot component of the Metro Manila Urban Transport Integration project for a non-motorized pedestrian and bicycle path in Marikina to connect communities with employment centers and Light Railway Transit (LRT) stations.

Besides saving on fare transport, bike riding is also good for one’s health, particularly the heart, Marikina officials led by Mayor Marides Fernando said.

“This non-motorized transport component includes a network of about 66 kilometers of bikeways, 50 kms of which will be developed along existing roads and 16 kms of bikeways along the Marikina river banks,” Contreras said.

Local officials in the metropolis have expressed their support for the creation of bike lanes proposed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Among local government units in Metro Manila, Marikina City, located in the eastern part of the metropolis, is the only local government unit that has embarked on an integrated bikeways system.

Marikina has already planned an efficient and economical way of easing perennial traffic by allocating a bicycle lane for the commuting public long before the oil crisis.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando who was then the mayor of Marikina requested the World Bank for assistance for funding.

“Because of proper traffic management, Fernando thought it is possible for the creation of the bicycle lanes as part of the city’s transport network,” Contreras said.

Of the 66-kilometer proposed bicycle lanes, Marikina has completed 30 kilometers. “We are targeting to finish by February next year 16 kilometers of the bike lanes,” she said.

In 1999, the World Bank released $1.3 million as grant for the bikeway project. Despite the grant, the city government shouldered 85 percent of the project cost.

“Financial assistance from foreign institutions is not enough. The city has to allocate its own so we can continue with the project. Here in Marikina, we are determine in finishing and promoting to our people the bicycle program,” she said.

“The bikeways project shares a big pie in the financing of the city government. We are not entirely dependent on grants,” she added.

Contreras said Marikina is the pilot city in the implementation of a bikeways system and is certain other LGUs will follow suit.

The bike lane is considered by President Arroyo as one way of decongesting Metro Manila and an alternative to save on fuel.

Rudy Lamco, an officer of the Ondabag Cycling Club, expressed elation over the MMDA proposal to create bicycle lanes in the metropolis.

“We in the club are happy because the government has considered coming up with bike considered coming up with bike lanes… it is a necessity especially nowadays,” Lamco said, as he stressed the various benefits of cycling.

Among the benefits include physical exercise, savings on fuel and transport fares.

“Riding a bike is discipline. It’s a personal thing. You can go on adventure outdoors and meet friends by biking. We could grow by simple riding a bicycle,” he said.

Roberto Tapales, a Marikina resident, said he would rather use his bike in going around the city, especially when he would visit his relatives in a nearby subdivision.

“Instead of taking a tricycle ride or jeepney ride, I would rather use my bike since these bike lanes proved to be very useful and safe,” he said.

The bikeway office conducts bicycle safety education campaign to schoolchildren 10 years old and above.

Lamco said their club, one of the volunteer cycling clubs in the city, helps in teaching the basic fundamentals and skills of biking to schools.

“Many people think that biking is dangerous. That’s why we need to instill the safety precautions of riding bikes to the people, especially the young ones,” Lamco said.

The city has bike patrol volunteers that roam around the city, and report any untoward incidents to the police.

Bicycle riders have easier access to various areas in the city since the bike lanes interconnect the different barangays.

As part of promoting urban cycling in the city, the bikeways office has initiated several programs for the riding public.

Among these include an interest-free bicycle loan program for low-income city employees, Bike Night at the Marikina Sports Park which encourages women and children to bike and holding an annual summer cycling events and competitions.

August 28, 2005

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