Villar seeks support for nationwide bike lanes
By MARIO B. CASAYURAN
Manila Bulletin
February 19, 2011
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. asked Saturday for congressional support for the passage of his bill which seeks to promote bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation in the face of the increasing price of fuel and fares.
Villar authored Senate Bill No. 2688 or the Bicycle Act of 2011 which seeks to provide a framework for a bicycle law on a national level. The bill states that all main roads and highways shall be provided with bicycle lanes or bike ways as identified by the Local Bikeways Office (LBO).
“Bicycle riding not only promotes health and leisure but also provides for an alternative solution to high fuel prices, increasing transport fares, traffic management, air and noise pollution and high cost of motorized vehicles including maintenance and parking fees,” Villar said.
The LBO is the agency which will be in charge of implementing the policies, rules, and regulations pertinent to the Bicycle Act, including the registration of bicycles using the bike ways. This agency will be under the supervision of the city or municipal engineering office.
One of the first measures related to bicycle use in the Philippines was enacted by the Marikina City Council in 1996, Villar said.
The Marikina ordinance defined the use of all streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks, and other public places as bicycle lanes.
Recently, a bicycle ordinance was approved on second reading in Davao City.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex has also integrated a bicycle lane in its road network, Villar said.
“The worsening pollution problem also calls for the promotion of the use of non-motorized vehicles that is free from harmful emissions,” he added.
The Villar bill also provides for the creation of Bicycle Parks in each city and municipality where provisions for bicycles are present such as bikeways, bicycle parking areas and similar infrastructure.
Funding for the construction of bicycle parks will be sourced from revenues raised from the locality’s miscellaneous activities like parking and license fees.
The bill also includes a section indicating the rights, duties, and obligations of cyclists, promoting safety of bicycle riders and all road users.
Other features of the bill are: The use of helmets and appropriate signals and the use of reflective materials especially at night; restrictions on cyclists and the right to use a bicycle such as the prohibition for a bicycle to carry more persons than it was designed to carry, except when another regular seat or trailer towed by the bicycle is present; and prohibits the parking of bicycles in areas not specifically marked as parking areas for bicycles.
According to the bill, once bike lanes are established on a road, any person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle to drive in the bikeway.
Villar authored Senate Bill No. 2688 or the Bicycle Act of 2011 which seeks to provide a framework for a bicycle law on a national level. The bill states that all main roads and highways shall be provided with bicycle lanes or bike ways as identified by the Local Bikeways Office (LBO).
“Bicycle riding not only promotes health and leisure but also provides for an alternative solution to high fuel prices, increasing transport fares, traffic management, air and noise pollution and high cost of motorized vehicles including maintenance and parking fees,” Villar said.
The LBO is the agency which will be in charge of implementing the policies, rules, and regulations pertinent to the Bicycle Act, including the registration of bicycles using the bike ways. This agency will be under the supervision of the city or municipal engineering office.
One of the first measures related to bicycle use in the Philippines was enacted by the Marikina City Council in 1996, Villar said.
The Marikina ordinance defined the use of all streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks, and other public places as bicycle lanes.
Recently, a bicycle ordinance was approved on second reading in Davao City.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex has also integrated a bicycle lane in its road network, Villar said.
“The worsening pollution problem also calls for the promotion of the use of non-motorized vehicles that is free from harmful emissions,” he added.
The Villar bill also provides for the creation of Bicycle Parks in each city and municipality where provisions for bicycles are present such as bikeways, bicycle parking areas and similar infrastructure.
Funding for the construction of bicycle parks will be sourced from revenues raised from the locality’s miscellaneous activities like parking and license fees.
The bill also includes a section indicating the rights, duties, and obligations of cyclists, promoting safety of bicycle riders and all road users.
Other features of the bill are: The use of helmets and appropriate signals and the use of reflective materials especially at night; restrictions on cyclists and the right to use a bicycle such as the prohibition for a bicycle to carry more persons than it was designed to carry, except when another regular seat or trailer towed by the bicycle is present; and prohibits the parking of bicycles in areas not specifically marked as parking areas for bicycles.
According to the bill, once bike lanes are established on a road, any person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle to drive in the bikeway.
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