The city government of Naga is set to open to the public the first  phase of its bike lane project in November.

Naga City Mayor Nelson “Son” Legacion told Rappler that the city allocated P755,000 to cover the costs of creating a 19-kilometer bike lane, which would pass through 8 barangays of Naga. 

“Bicycle tourism can attract visitors and spur growth. They can also help decongest traffic, and significantly eliminate or, at least, reduce losses in travel time,” said Legacion. 

The mayor said the city government conducted a series of public consultations from September 2019 to February 2020 before pushing through with the project. 

Naga City Bicycle Board Coordinator Boboy Hernandez said they were having a dialogue with transport sectors to share the road with cyclists.

Phase 1 of the bicycle lane project encompasses the major streets of Naga City and will be linking the following streets: Panganiban, Magsaysay Road, Liboton, Bagumbayan, Santa Cruz, Igualdad, and Dinaga. 

There are 3 more phases for the project, set to be completed by 2021.

The city government partnered with the Naga Bicycle Board – composed of presidents of transport bicycle organizations, the Sports and Tourism Bicycle Organization, and the Health and Wellness Bicycle Organization – for the bicycle lane project. 

Pursuant to City Ordinance No. 2017-030 or the Naga Bicycle Ordinance, all bicycles acquired in, and being used by residents of Naga, must be registered.

Hernandez said that the registration costs P175, which will cover an ID and a reflectorized sticker for the bicycle similar to the one issued by the Land Transportation Office for vehicles. 

“‘May mga benefits po ‘yun na may mga bike shop kaming partner na bibigyan ka ng 35% discount, 25% discount. May at least 20 partners na [halimbawa]  bibili ka ng bike parts, magkakaroon ka ng discount,” Hernandez said. 

(There are benefits. We have partner bike shops that will give you a 35% discount, 25% discount. There are at least 20 partners that will give you a discount if for example you will buy bike parts.)

The ID will store the information of the cyclist and the serial number of the bicycle for emergency purposes and anti-theft.

Hernandez said that the city would also put up bike repair stations in the coming weeks. 

“Naghahanap na kami ng place kung saan namin ilalagay [ang bike repair stations]. May design na po ‘yung city so I think isasabay na rin namin pag open… para masiraan man sila, may magagamit sila along the way,” Hernandez said. 

(We are looking for a place where we would put bike repair stations. The city already has a design so I think we will also open it with the bike lanes…so that even if their bicycles got damaged, they can use something along the way.)

Rules for cyclists

The Naga Bicycle Ordinance lists the following as prohibited acts:

• Parking a vehicle on a bike lane,
• Putting obstruction along the bike lane, including loading or unloading of goods except in emergency cases
• Using the bike lane for rallies, peaceful concerted activities, or other similar events, except those permitted by the city government via an ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod

In Section 21, in case of accidents or violations of traffic regulations that happen on bicycle lanes, rules shall be liberally constructed in favor of the cyclist. Any person involved other than the cyclist is presumed at fault. 

If the incident happened on the middle of a city or national road, rules shall be constructed in favor of the motorist. 

In 2019, the Naga City Police Office said 80 cyclists were injured in bicycle-related road incidents. – Rappler.com

Alzel Laguardia is a Rappler intern.