03/08/2021
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฐ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐
by Lyka Amethyst Casamayor
Bike safety advocates and cyclists in Davao City expressed that cycling is now safer and "less scary" with the inauguration of the 54.74-kilometer network of bicycle lane that stretches across 14 road sections lane last July 20, 2021.
"Cycling is much safer compared before. I've been cycling to work since 2019 and I can proudly say that these bike lanes gave me a sense of safety and security," Lend A Bike Project Davao Bike Safety Advocate Karim Elijah said in an online interview.
Jennie Arado, SunStar Davao Lifestyle Editor, who is also biking to work said that the bike lane network makes it less scary for first-time city bikers.
"At least there's a relatively safe space allotted for them. Bike lanes are a step towards safer roads for all road users," she added.
Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Environmental Research Specialist EnP. Lemuel Manalo also has the same take on the cityโs bike lanes saying that he feels much secured and confident in regular bike commuting even at rush hours.
Although there were bikers seen on city streets before, biking to work was only highlighted during the peak of quarantine due to the pandemic when workforce and frontliners were left with no choice.
Biking to work at the height of the pandemic became the most logical and wise choice among our frontliners and daily wage earners due to limitations in the use of the public utility vehicles.
This is when a group of bike safety advocates came in to help through their Lend a Bike Project Davao where they paired with bike lenders, private individuals who have a spare bike, and bike borrowers, frontliners from nurses to hospital aides and grocery promodisers.
Meanwhile, bike safety advocates are encouraging more Dabawenyos to switch to cycling as it has benefits to health that could help strengthen immune system and combat Covid-19 virus, and the environment with less carbon footprint resulting to better air.
"Promoting bike commute and bike to work initiatives is the single most effective means of air pollution mitigation we have on the street level. It's an effective means of reducing car traffic volume," Mechanical Engineer and Bike Safety Advocate Eduardo Martin C. Zaldivar said.
"Think of bike lanes and promoting active transportation lifestyle as an investment. A healthy population means better allocation of health funds for future lifestyle illnesses," he added.
Manalo said sustainable and non-motorized mobility is clean, smart and efficient. It must be the way forward, for a sustainable transit-oriented city.
โOn economy, bike boom also contributes to rise of refreshments, stalls, restaurants, coffee shops and etc. Lastly, the reduction of traffic as well as carbon emissions leading to a good air quality for the environment,โ he said.
While the bike lane network made the road for bikers and cyclists safer, bike safety advocates still see things that need to be improved to further ensure safety and security which hopefully the city government of Davao will address.
Elijah suggested that bike lanes should have bollards and concrete slabs for better protection. An ordinance should be passed promoting and protecting the bikersโ welfare of the bikers and not just be limited to merely collecting registration fees.
Arado also hope that motorists will be more aware of the bike lane and the bike box, how it works and to respect these spaces.
"Likewise, I hope bikers would also respect other road users and traffic rules as well," Arado said.
The bike lanes in the city are situated in Davao-Cotabato highway, ABS-CBN-Quimpo Boulevard Diversion Road, G.E. Street (Sandawa Road), Roxas Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Elpidio Quirino Avenue, E. Jacinto Extension Street, Dr. A. Gahol Street, Mabini Street, F. Torres Street, Loyola Street, Porras Street, Iรฑigo Street, and Nicasio Street.
Department of Transportation - Philippines
Department of Public Works and Highways
City Government of Davao
DPWH Region XI
