Several bikers groups in the city have requested that the City of Bacolod be declared a “bike-friendly city,” Bacolod Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. yesterday said after a public hearing conducted by the Committee on Transportation.

The Bacolod Sanggunaing Panlungsod has passed on first reading an ordinance establishing bike lanes, or bike friendly zones, along Burgos Street corner Circumferential Road, up to Brgy. Alangilan, and Bacolod Murcia Road, Brgy. Alijis up to Paglaum Village, Brgy. Mansilingan.

The ordinance authored by Gamboa and Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said that with the fatal accident on Nov. 5, 2008 involving biker Benjamin Moraña, there is a need to provide bike lanes and signages to protect bikers against reckless drivers.

It also said it is the advocacy of “Go Bike Pilipinas” to prevent rising epidemic of obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases, such as bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels that can lead to heart disease, hypertension and osteoporosis, through proper diet and exercises like biking among others.

It added that biking is also being promoted as an alternative cheaper mode of transportation applicable to our environment, and as an alternative to the rising fuel prices and frequent jeepney strikes.

Gamboa said that the bikers also requested that bike lanes be established along the circumferential road which they frequently use.

He said they will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways on the legalities involved in putting up bike lanes in these areas since such roads are under the national government.

Gamboa said he will also ask the assistance of Marikina, which has an existing ordinance on bike lanes on the one proposed in Bacolod.*CGS

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