Why Sharing The Road Matters

Do not blame the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for dedicating a Bike Lane along the busy streets of the Metro.

Bike Lanes are actually a Share the Road Campaign of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society in 2008 which is developed to achieve benefits for the environment, safety, and accessibility.

All over the world, most people rely on either walking or cycling for their mobility. It is that program that moves government regardless of country invest in infrastructure for the benefit of those who walk and cycle.

However, the fact remains that in spite of the cost, there will still be people who would go for cars.

But according to UNEP, the Share The Road Program is not only an infra investment for walking and cycling because it aims to benefit the environment, promote safety, and give accessibility.

The Environment benefits through this program since promoting cycling and walking likewise promote less pollution and greenhouse gases. It increases Safety since it make road users mindful of other users especially from high-speed traffic, and Accessibility since it provides people anywhere in the world with a safe and affordable means of traveling particularly going to and from work.

And just recently, the DOTr and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had launched the opening of Metro Manila Bike Lane Network on July 27, 2021, which is said to be the longest bicycle lane network in the country.

The Metro Manila Bike Lane Network which measures 1.5 to 3 meters in width (depending on the road’s configuration) makes 12 cuts passing through the cities of Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Parañaque, and Taguig averaging 313 kilometers in length.

Bike lanes matter to Filipinos not only for social activities but also for workers who uses bicycles as their mode of transportation going to their workplaces, among other intended destinations.

It is important for other road users not to ignore the bike lanes as there is a corresponding traffic violation penalty for those who will block or obstruct the bike lanes.

Though road infrastructures continue to favor the car and other vehicles, the impact of ignoring the pedestrian and bicycle lanes can be too scary because of accidents involving four-wheeled vehicles against pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders.

37-year-old FoodPanda Rider, Eric Garcia Padura, who runs with a Honda Beat 2020 model for food delivery service, said sharing the road is perfectly fine with riders like him. It is just that he would like to request cyclists to keep their cool as well on the road.

“To the cyclists, please keep your cool whenever riders pass you by because they have no intentions to swerve against you. There is no need to yell at us because like you, we also have our purpose in road,” explains Padura.

So it is out of concern for road users to give way and recognize the rights of cyclists on their share of the road. To our fellow Automart.PH readers and followers, it's all down to giving space to our most vulnerable road users. Just think about it, you wouldn't want to be yelled out when you're on the road, too.