Amid high fuel prices, JV Ejercito renews call for safer bike lanes

Screenshot of former Senator-elect JV Ejercito from his Facebook account.

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday urged the national government to improve the country’s cycling infrastructure as increasing fuel prices are expected to encourage more workers to use bicycles and scooters as alternative modes of transportation.

In a statement, Ejercito said the national government should keep cyclists and scooter riders safe while improving mass transportation in the country.

“Though we admire such resilience and innovation, the government should look into improving road conditions for alternative means of transportation. Until such a time that the government has finished its goal to provide mass transportation that is people-centered and accommodating to every walk of life, there will always be room for alternative forms of travel,” he said.

Local oil prices have been rapidly increasing in recent weeks after Saudi Arabia decided to implement a price hike on crude oil.

The depreciation of the Philippine peso against the United States dollar has also contributed to local oil price hikes.

Officials are expecting that this surge in gas prices will put the spotlight on cheaper modes of transportation, which is already gaining traction in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent survey conducted by the World Bank in partnership with several national agencies found that more Filipinos have opted to use bicycles amidst pandemic-related restrictions on public transportation.

Ejercito, an active cyclist and staunch advocate of active transportation, said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) should spearhead the promotion of bicycles and scooters and ensure that active transportation is prioritized in the national government’s flagship infrastructure program.

“We appeal to the LTO to pursue further studies on how to treat e-scooters and e-bikes as an alternative form of transportation. The government’s effort to improve our system of transportation through its “Build Build Build” program has encountered an abrupt and unexpected pitstop,” he said.

“The pandemic has pushed our people to become more creative in their means of travel,” he added.

/MUF