Bikes, motorcycles to play important role for commuters under 'new normal'

Two-wheel vehicles will have an important role for Filipino commuters once the community quarantines have been lifted and the country transitions into the "new normal," the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on 24 Oras, the DOTr will push for the use of motorcycles and bicycles as modes of transportation after the  lockdowns currently in place to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

"Mahalaga po ang magiging papel ng mga motorcycles at mga bisikleta dahil na rin po sa limitadong kapasidad ng pang-publpikong sasakyan," DOTr Assistant Secretary Steve Pastor said.

The use of bicycles and motorcycles will allow the public to comply with social distancing measures issued by authorities, according to the DOTr official.

Pastor said that the agency is already coordinating with local authorities in establishing bicycle lanes for road safety.

"Sa two-wheel transport, ang pinaka-importante po ang kaligtasan kung kaya't kami po ay patuloy na nakikipag-uganayan sa mga LGU, para sa pamamagitan ng DOLG, gayon na rin po sa MMDA, para magkaroon po ng lanes for bicycles, even for EDSA," he said.

Several local government units in Metro Manila, like Marikina City, already have designated bike lanes.

However, many of these are unusable due to structures that have been built over it or due to jeepneys parking over the lanes.

Personnel at the Bureau of Fire Protection in Marikina are already encouraging the public to use bicycles when going to work.

"Syempre, mahihirapan po tayo sa transportation dahil mababawasan 'yung mga kayang i-accomodate ng mga sasakyan natin. So, I encourage everyone po na mas okay na po gumamit na lang ng bikes," Jennelyn Saria said. -MDM, GMA News