BIKE LANES NEEDED

Working Filipinos want more bike lanes on paved roads and paths, and more secured bike parking.

This is what the workers want, according to a survey conducted by the Institute for Labor Studies, the research arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

With COVID-19 keeping most commuters away from public transport, the use of bicycle has emerged as a safe and convenient alternative mode of transport, ILS Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba said as she presented to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III the results of the perception survey they conducted on the use of a bicycle as a transport option for Filipino workers.

The research is part of DOLE’s Bike-to-Work Project, which aims to assist workers in this time of pandemic by providing bicycles as a transport option or a livelihood opportunity.

Respondents were asked, among others, for their desired improvements in bicycling commuting.

Majority of the workers are in favor of having more bike lanes on paved roads, bike paths, and more secured bike parking.

The presence of bike lanes and their safety on road are also among the foremost concerns of bike riders.

Respondents said that what prevents them from using the bike is because of the following reasons: 1) they do not feel safe traveling in the road; 2) poor road conditions; 3) lack of secured bike parking or storage facility and facilities (ex. shower or change rooms).

Despite these concerns, 78% of the total respondents answered that they would still use bicycles in going to work, even if there were other accessible forms of transportation.

Most of the respondents are bike owners (total of 865), where 33% of them are members of a cycling club or bicycle advocacy group.

According to the respondents, the significant health benefits of bicycling is the primary reason for them getting into bicycling (85%). This is followed by biking as a mode of transport to get to work (82%) concerning the pandemic and limited transportation.

For those who have used a bicycle for the last 6 months (813 respondents), more than half or 58% said that their bike trips were for traveling to and from work. It was also noted that those who have used a bike to work increased after the imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

The preliminary results of the research, which was carried out at the onset of the relaxing of community quarantine in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, were presented to DOLE Senior officials to discuss possible projects and policy recommendations.

The survey yielded a total of 1,119 respondents, with the majority of them coming from the National Capital Region (NCR).  

The Financial District would like to learn more from its audience. Can you please give us feedback on this article you just read. Click Here to participate in our online survey.