City identifies routes for bike lanes project

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City’s Sugbo Bike Lanes Board has initially identified the route for the pilot test for the establishment of bike lanes in the city.

Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Ma. Nida Cabrera said the route will start from Barangay Calamba along V. Rama to B. Rodriguez to General Maxilom Avenue to S. Osmeña Boulevard to Plaza Independencia.

However, Cabrera said the outgoing administration does not have enough time for its continued implementation.

“Nag-expect nga unsay nasugdan sa karon nga mga board including sa planning nga to implement na. I hope ma-carry over na sa next nga board sad kay automatic man nga ang ilahang term up to June 30 ra sad,” she told The FREEMAN.

Cabrera said the new administration has the discretion to amend the initially agreed bike lane route since it is not yet the final design.

One of the considerations for the route is that the roads are already widened, she said.

Cabrera said the proposed route is also the usual route of bikers in the city as observed by the members of the board.

Once the design and the route will be finalized, she said the markings of the roads will follow.

“Of course, ang transportation is a major contributor sa atong emission kana siya dako na kaayo na siya og reduction when it comes to emission kung ato ng i-push through ng atoang bike lanes,” she said.

On October 2014, the City Council approved Cabrera’s ordinance providing for shared priority bike lane in designated roads in the city.

Cabrera said it is only this year that the city has allocated P2.2 million for the construction of a bike clinic facility, bike racks in public schools, and for the bike markings along the road.

“Nalangan lang siya kay we’re waiting sab sa katong route sa atoang BRT kun madayon ba kay naa may incorporation for bike lanes ato,” she said.

Cabrera said the ordinance stipulates that the bike lane is shared with other kinds of vehicles.

However, she said the ordinance prioritizes the bikers so other motorists are not allowed to use the lane if there are bikers along the bike lane.

In the existing ordinance, Cabrera said a shared-lane marking is a 1.5-meter wide pavement parking installed on the rightmost side of the traversable area of the road and to indicate where bikers or cyclist should ride their bikes.

“We will just turn over this to the next administration to implement this one kay the city has already a budget on this para sa initial piloting then nahuman na sab namo ang program of works para sa atong bike clinics,” she said. — GAN (FREEMAN)