The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for the establishment of mandatory bicycle lanes and walking paths in the city.
City legislators stated the local government shall establish a network of bicycle lanes and walking paths to support the mobility of people, adopting the provisions of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-100, which prescribes the guidelines for the establishment of a network of cycling lanes and walking paths to support mobility of people as may be applicable in the city.
The council mandated the creation of the Baguio City Active Transport Team (BCATT) to be composed of the City Mayor as honorary chairperson; the City Administrator as action officer and the representatives from the DILG, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Traffic Legislation; chairperson of the City Council Committee on Public Works; the City Engineering Office (CEO); the Department of Transportation; the Department of Public Works and highways–Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO); the Baguio City Police Office–Traffic Enforcement Unit (BCPO-TEU); the president of the Daily Cycle Movement private sector counterpart, and other offices or agencies that may be deemed necessary.
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Under the proposed ordinance, the BCATT shall review the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP); revisit existing transportation plans; develop a plan for the establishment of a network of bicycle lanes and walking paths; implement programs, projects, and activities to support active transport; oversee the implementation of the plan or the proposed scheme; develop a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure proper implementation; ensure strict law enforcement in accordance with local and national laws and policies, and assist in clearing of roads from obstructions.
The council added that vehicle or motorcycle driving along bicycle lanes shall be penalized with the confiscation of driver’s licenses and payment of a fine of P500 for every offense while drivers of vehicles and motorcycles causing injury, damage to property or death to cyclists or pedestrians utilizing bicycle lanes and walking paths shall be penalized by a fine of P5,000 for the first offense, a fine of P5,000, suspension or revocation od driver’s license depending on the gravity of damages and other criminal or civil penalties as may be determined by the curt among others.
Further, the council claimed the penal provisions cited shall not preclude the filing of separate cases resulting from injury, damage to property or death of victims.
The council reiterated the importance of bicycle lanes as one of the best practices of great economies to mitigate the effects of global warming emanating from public and private transport, to foster environmental sustainability for future generations, and to protect pedestrians, brisk walkers and cyclists by providing safety measures in the installation of lanes dedicated for the same purpose.
Moreover, the council stipulated that with strengthened physical distancing protocols required to maintain a safe public transportation system by limiting current capacity, the use of bicycles and walking have been promoted as essential and safer modes of transport as the same allows physical distancing and provides needed mobility for citizens to proceed with their daily activities.
By Dexter A. See
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