DOTr to DepEd, CHEd: Provide bike racks, sheds to students to promote active mobility
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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday urged both the Department of Education (DepED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to establish End-of-Trip (EoT) facilities in educational institutions to promote active mobility, especially amid the foreseen increase in traffic and passenger volume.
According to DOTr’s statement, under Department Order No. 2020-014, children up to 15 years of age can utilize bicycle lanes along national and primary roads, provided that an adult cyclist accompanies them.
“The establishment of the EoT facilities, which include parking spaces for bicycles— sheds, bike racks, as well as showers, will encourage students, teachers, and other school personnel to use existing bicycle lanes,” DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista said.
Bautista said the agency also appealed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to deploy additional traffic enforcers and marshals at school zones in the upcoming resume of classes to ensure the safety of traveling students.
“Road safety is of paramount importance. [Unfortunately,] as students return to face-to-face classes, they are subjected yet again to vulnerability on the road. With this, we would like to remind all our motorists to share the road for the safety of all other road users, especially our cyclists and pedestrians— including our learners,” said DOTr Usec. for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Pastor.
The school year 2022-2023 is set to begin on Monday, August 22, with all public and private schools expected to transition to five days of face-to-face classes by November 2.
