DILG urges LGUs to build connected bicycle lanes

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging local government units (LGUs) to install interconnected bicycle lanes across cities and towns to accommodate the expected increase in cyclists returning to work.

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año directed LGUs to coordinate with neighboring localities to establish a connected bicycle road network.

This initiative is a response to the anticipated rise in workers using bicycles due to limited public transportation options as Metro Manila transitions to a General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

Año emphasized the importance of keeping bicycle lanes free from obstructions to ensure cyclist safety.

The use of bicycles is encouraged by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) as a healthy, cost-effective, and safe alternative mode of transportation.

LGUs are also tasked with enacting ordinances to penalize violations within bike lanes and must adhere to the Department of Transportation's (DOTr's) design guidelines for safe bike lane infrastructure.

Mandatory health protocols, including wearing face masks, must be strictly enforced on these lanes and in all public areas.

Motorcycle taxis, like those hailed through ride-sharing apps, remain prohibited under GCQ and MECQ, along with motorcycle back rides, even for married couples, to maintain physical distancing and prevent COVID-19 transmission.