Senator Mark A. Villar has filed a bill that seeks to provide the rights of bicycle riders and convince others to use the bike as an alternative mode of transportation.
Villar’s bill or the Bicycle Act of 2022 also mandates the establishment of the Local Bikeway Office (LBO) to implement the rules and regulations of the Bicycle Act.
The LBO will be tasked to manage the construction and maintenance of a bikeway network including the identification of a bikeway roadmap.
“The bill seeks to provide a framework for a bicycle law on a national level so that Filipino commuters may find a cheaper alternative to get to their destination while saving the environment from harmful emissions,” Villar said.
With the surge in fuel prices in the global market, Villar cited the need for a cost-efficient, cheaper, and environmentally friendly transportation like bicycles.
The proposed bill enumerates the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of cyclists:
• Ride on any public road or street that has been designated as bikeway;
• Know the use of right and left turn signals;
• Adhere to the appropriate speed;
• Wear a helmet at all times, where the chin strap is securely fastened;
• Equip the bike with reflective materials when riding at night;
• Obey all traffic rules and regulations;
• Not riding on crosswalks or sidewalks, but only on bikeways;
• Not clinging to another vehicle; and
• Not carrying more riders than the bike was designed for, unless they’re on a towed seat or trailer, among others.
Villar believes the proposed measure will provide additional safety interventions to ensure the protection of bike riders from danger.