The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday, April 21, said 55% of the targeted 535-kilometer bike lane network in the Philippines has already been established.

In a press briefing, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said 296 kilometers of the bike lane network already have pavement markings, while some sections have short posts, called bollards, or curbs.

“[T]he goal is to complete the total bike lane network length in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao to almost 535 kilometers before the year ends,” Tugade told reporters.

The bike lane project of the government covers Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. The DOTr partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for the project.

As early as June 2020, the DOTr committed to putting bike lanes along EDSA. Cones were initially placed to delineate the lane.

But funds came at a later time, as the budget was appropriated only in September 2020 through the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, amounting to P1.1 billion.

Bulk of the funds or P800 million would go to Metro Manila bike lanes, stretching about 340 kilometers. Metro Cebu and Metro Davao bike lanes have a P150-million allocation each.

Tugade also gave assurances that the department would stay committed to the bike lane program “even after the pandemic.”

The Duterte administration has until the 1st quarter of 2022 to complete infrastructure projects, should the Commission on Elections ban construction activities.

“Sa ganda nitong programang ito, hindi ‘to hihinto paghinto ng pandemya. Tuloy-tuloy ito,” Tugade said. (This is a good program, so it will not be stopped even if the pandemic ends. It will continue.)

On Wednesday, the DOTr also launched the Active Transport Manual in partnership with SM’s corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares. The manual, which aims to promote road safety, courtesy, and etiquette among road users, will be handed out for free at SM malls.

SM Supermalls president Steven Tan also said they would release additional video materials geared towards motorists’ conduct with bikers. – Rappler.com