REP. LAWRENCE “LAW” H. FORTUN
Agusan del Norte 1st District
A lawyer by profession | Mobile number 09177292437
Concretize government’s pronouncements
CYCLISTS’ RIGHT OF ACCESS TO ROADS MUST BE ENFORCED NOW, NATIONWIDE
Nagbisikleta ako kailan lang sa major roads. Ang daming nagbibisikleta, babae’t lalaki papuntang trabaho. Nakaaawa kasi they do that every day at grabe ang hazards na exposed sila.
Nakita ko sa unahan ko ang isang biker na nagulat sa busina ng isang sasakyan na para bang pinagtabuyan siya sa kalsada.
In these difficult times when public transportation is scarce, many Filipinos have resorted to using bikes to get to work and other destinations.
I appeal to the IATF to ensure the safety of bikers by ordering the strict designation of bike lanes on roads and thoroughfares all over the country, not just in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
It is upsetting that while government is encouraging the use of bikes, there has really been no nationwide, aggressive, and concrete efforts to ensure the safety of bikers on the road.
Bikers should be able to get to their places of work and livelihood and other destinations via the bike lanes. This is a way to concretize government’s pronouncements encouraging the use of bikes. Otherwise, that is just lip service.
Safety on the road along with motor vehicles has always been a major issue for people considering bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation. Without bike lanes, the danger and hazards are just too high.
For starters towards a bicycle-friendly country, unahin ang bike lanes. Ito naman ay hindi mahirap kung mamarapatin. Hindi magastos. Ilatag lang ang patakaran. Maglaan ng pera para sa pintura. Ipatupad nang istrikto at i-educate ang parehong siklista at motorista.
Kung meron mang bike lanes tayong nakikita, maiigsi at putul-putol. Parang pa-consuelo lang. People using bikes are exposed to extreme danger every time they get out there on the road.
This will not only help address the significant decrease of access to public transportation due to certain quarantine protocols, this also promotes healthy lifestyle. Biking is scientifically known to improve lung health, cut risks of heart disease, enhance mental well-being and boost immune system in general which are very important to resist the coronavirus.
To institutionalize a comprehensive national bike lane policy, I urge Congress to pass now the Integrated Bike Lanes bill which seeks to integrate bike lanes in the country’s transportation system. Wala naman sigurong madugong debate dito. Ipasa na natin. We need this law especially now that we are in the new normal.
We appeal as well to motorists to respect bikes we see on the road. I am saddened when I see some motorists blowing their horns loud and long when they see bikes in front of them. Wala man lang respeto sa kapwa. Let’s give way and protect the cyclists because they are the ones more vulnerable on busy roads. Kailangang magbigayan lalo na sa ganitong kalagayan. (END)
