QC eyes bike lanes along Commonwealth Avenue

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Quezon City (QC) government is eyeing to put up designated bike lanes along Commonwealth Avenue as the country looks to biking as an alternative amid public transportation limitations.

As part of its Bike Lane Network project, the city government is setting up bike lanes to cater to citizens who recently shifted to cycling.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday said she has asked permission from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to implement the project along Commonwealth Avenue, a national government highway.

“Commonwealth Avenue is one of the major thoroughfares in our city so it is fitting to include it in our bike lane network,” she said in a statement.

It is also sometimes called the “killer highway” because of the high occurrence of vehicular accidents there.

The local government is set to start the first phase of the project, which will include improving and repairing existing bike lanes and placing temporary traffic separation devices to fast-track its implementation in July.

New bike lane routes have also been identified to improve route connectivity, while route signage and bike parking areas will also be included in the network.

The national government has been looking into building bicycle lanes all over Metro Manila, specifically along EDSA and six other major thoroughfares.

In his 12th report to Congress on the use of emergency powers amid the pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said a technical working group (TWG) has been created to prepare for the design and construction of bicycle lanes along major roads in the metropolis.

A bike group earlier laid makeshift barriers to create a temporary bike lane along Commonwealth Avenue, but the MMDA dismantled the said barriers as it may endanger people. Jim Mendoza