CEBU, Philippines — Bicycles will now be banned on both the Marcelo Fernan and Sergio Osmeña bridges.
During the monthly Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board meeting, the body has agreed to prohibit the entry of bicycles on the two bridges connecting the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
This move by the board is part of the effort to reduce suicide attempts in the bridge. Within this year alone, the bridges have seen four successful suicides.
Apart from this, only one walking lane per bridge will now be allowed by the board to the public. These lanes will also be closed off from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
"Kanang 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., labi na naay blind spots sa CCTV, di kaayo ma-monitor. Ngitngit pa. The bridges have become a popular place for those who want to commit suicide. So, we wish to make it as difficult for them," Governor Gwen Garcia said.
As for concerned netizens who aired out their grievances on social media saying the bridges are also popular spots for exercise, Garcia said sparing lives than having lives lost to suicide is more important.
"Bring your advocacies to other areas because we have not closed down the whole world anyway. Daghan pa man sa syudad," Garcia said.
During the meeting, the board has also discussed with representatives from the Mandaue Traffic Enforcement Agency for the re-routing of traffic coming from the two bridges.
"First impression man gud ni nila sa Cebu," Garcia said referring to visitors from outside Cebu who are greeted by heavy traffic after crossing the bridge.
Among the concerns is the capacity of the bridges to immobile trucks for the duration of the traffic congestion.
The Province of Cebu has met again with the Traffic Enforcement Agency yesterday to discuss the re-routing’s swift implementation. (FREEMAN)