Many Cebuano bikers, especially those residing in Mandaue City, will surely be amused as soon as waking up to this news.
On Monday night, the local government unit of Mandaue City shared on its Facebook page that personnel from the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) are working overtime to install bike lanes along A. Del Rosario Street in Brgy. Guizo, Mandaue City.
This action came after Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said that he is against the registration of bicycles in the city. What should be done is make bike lanes for the bikers, to make the streets safe for everyone.
“Dili ta mo require nga ipa-rehistro ang mga biskleta dinhi sa Mandaue. Ang angay natong buhaton ensakto ug luwas nga bike lanes para sa mga bikers.”
– Mandaue City Mayor Jonas C. Cortes
ALSO READ: Cebu City to build own dedicated bicycle lane ‘very soon’
Having a bike lane, means building one.
Painting it only on the road it is ridiculous.
The Roads are so contested special at rush hours.
I believe this is a step in the right direction. Sure, there will be some conflict during the implementation process as all road users become aware and accustomed to this system, however, if properly implemented and policed, it may work.
It is difficult and expensive to create dedicated bike lanes particularly in very congested areas. With road users of all types ‘fighting’ for their patch of road and means to move through the traffic, the thought of having a dedicated lane for a ‘few’ cyclists can seem like a crazy idea and a waste of tax-payers money.
In time, if more people take up cycling as a serious means of transport for their daily commute (rather than just a leisure activity) and more lanes are added to other roads, with a properly interconnected network, these initial steps may prove to be beneficial in adding yet another option to the transport mix. Hopefully, these first steps will be worthwhile in alleviating the strain on other modes of transport in an already overloaded system.
Unless there is a physical separation -not paint on the floor- like a concrete barrier bikers are unsafe. Jeepneys, cars and motorbikes will invade the lane.
But yes, Cebu City has potential for bike use and bringing down the irrational use of cars, it’s awesome that steps in that direction are taken.