San Juan sets up bike lane, dedicated motorcycle lane on Ortigas Avenue

San Juan opens dedicated motorcycle lanes and bike lanes along Ortigas Avenue on Sept. 17. /San Juan PIO

MANILA, Philippines — A modified bicycle lane and a dedicated motorcycle lane were set up along a portion of Ortigas Avenue that is covered by San Juan City to ensure the safety of cyclists, Mayor Francis Zamora said on Thursday.

Zamora said they designated the third lane of Ortigas Avenue for bicycles and e-scooters where a speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour will be enforced.

Meanwhile, the dedicated motorcycle lane was placed adjacent to the bicycle lane.

“‘Yung mga motor na dumadaan sa first and second lane na pangkotse lamang, ginawan ng dedicated motorcycle lane para yung first two lanes purely pang-kotse tapos yung third lane magkahati yung bicycles at yung mga motor pati mga scooter,” Zamora said during the press conference for the launch of the bicycle and motorcycle lane along Ortigas Avenue.

(We created a dedicated motorcycle lane for cyclists traversing the first and second lane for cars. This was made so that the first two lanes will be for cars while the third lanes will be used by motorcycles, bikes and scooters.)

Zamora said San Juan City has jurisdiction on the portion of Ortigas Avenue from Santolan Road up to the corner of Connecticut Street.

Connected bike lanes

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia said they are looking to coordinate with Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos to connect the bike lanes and motorcycle lanes along Ortigas Avenue with their respective cities in eastern Metro Manila.

“Sana naman yung may mga motorcycles and bikers, huwag niyo na abusuhin.  Huwag na yung kung saan saan kayo dadaan naman. Binigyan kayo, ginastusan ni Mayor para sa safety niyo which is yung direction ng national government to promote the bike lanes,” Garcia, who is also present at the press briefing, told reporters.

(I hope those using motorcycles and bikers will not abuse these lanes. The mayor spent money on this and for your safety which is the direction of the national government. To promote the bike lanes.)

“That’s why tinanong ko nga kay Mayor kanina ano sakop ng San Juan sa Ortigas? So may Mandaluyong at Pasig ‘yan. So after this maybe I am going to speak with Mayor Menchie and Mayor Vico para may standard at connectivity,” he added.

(That’s why I asked the Mayor earlier what are the other areas adjacent to Ortigas? So we have Mandaluyong and Pasig. So maybe after this I will speak with the mayors so that there will be a standard and connectivity.)

Garcia also noted that this move replicates the government’s effort to connect bike lanes in major hospitals at Quezon City and Manila to aid medical frontline workers to reach their workplaces amid limited public transport during the community quarantine.

/MUF