Cyclists call for stricter implementation of bike lane rules

Cyclist groups over the weekend called on the government to look into the safety of bikers across the country, following the recent incidents involving motorists and cyclists on roads despite the presence of bike lanes.

Cyclist Attorney Raymond Fortun was optimistic that the recent Senate hearing on the incident involving a cyclist and a gun-wielding ex-policeman would lead to the passage of laws for the safety of bikers across the country.

“Ano ba talaga mga rights ng mga cyclists ‘pag ito ay nagbibisikleta sa ating lansangan?” he said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“Is there even any presumption of fault on the part of the motorist in case magkaroon ng insidente ng banggaan katulad ng ganito noong nagkatutukan? Meron bang presumptions,” he added.

(What really are the rights of the cyclists when they ply the roads? Is there even any presumption of fault on the part of the motorist in case a collision happens like the recent gun-toting episode? Are there presumptions?)

He was referring to an incident in which former policeman Wilfredo Gonzales drew his gun on cyclist Allan Bandiola during a traffic altercation. Gonzales has since apologized for the incident, claiming that he was acting in self-defense.

Cyclists on Sunday organized QCklista, which called for the safety of cyclists across the country.

“Dapat ang ginagawa natin, we call out the government na dapat i-enforce natin na ito talaga dapat may bike lane, dapat sinusunod ng kotse iyan, sinusunod ng motor,” QCklista Secretary Jasper Abunyawan said.

(What we should be doing is we should be calling on the government to ensure  that cars and motorcycles follow bike lane rules.)

This comes as several cyclists said vehicles have been passing through the bike lanes, which are supposed to be designated for cyclists.

“Dehadong dehado kami ‘pag dating sa bike lane… May sariling bike lane pero hindi lang ‘yong mga motorsiklo ang pumapasok, kundi maging iyong mga four wheels,” cyclist Rouel Bungke said.

(We are at a disadvantage when it comes to the bike lane. There is a designated bike lane but not only do the motorcycles enter but also four-wheeled vehicles.)

“Iyong bike lane natin, dapat lagyan na ng barrier para wala na talagang makapasok,” Cesar Espiritu of Bike Buddies said in the same report.

(Barriers should be placed on the bike lanes to ensure that no one else enters.)

Several bike lanes have also been reported to be blocked by parked cars, as recorded along the street across the Barangay Libis barangay hall.

“Minsan matitigas ang ulo talaga ng mga tao. Ang katwiran, may bababa lang, ang katwiran sandali lang. Hindi mawala ‘yung ganon sa Pilipino sa sobrang katigasan ng ulo,” a representative of the barangay said.

“Kailan lang nag-operation ang ano dito, MMDA, talagang araw araw tuwing umaga, alas-siyete ng umaga, ticket sila nang ticket diyan,” she added.

(Sometimes people are really hard-headed. They have all these justifications, saying they will only drop a person off, it will only be a while. This will not disappear from Filipinos because of their hard-headedness.

Just recently the MMDA conducted an operation here, every 7 a.m. they were issuing tickets.) — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News