Bike Lanes Eyed For Baguio Roads

July 22, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (July 22, 2020) – Four major Baguio roads are being eyed as bicycle lanes as the city gears to a shift to a “new normal”.
The city is expected to spend some P6 million from the P18.1 million savings that was meant to fund subsidy of public utility jeepney drivers.
Only some P1.86 million was spent from the P20 million that was earlier earmarked to help jeepney drivers cope with less days to ply their usual route and the prescribed half load to allow physical distancing within their vehicles.
City administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said the four roads eyed for the installation of bike lanes are: Naguilian Road; Marcos Highway, from Green Valley junction to the rotunda of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center; Loakan Road, from Scout Barrio to Session Road Circle; and Pacdal Rotunda.
Naguilian and Marcos Highway are two major arteries in and out of the city, the former links Baguio to La Union on the northwest side of the city, while the latter also links Baguio to the same province on the southwest portion.
He said the executive body, through the City Engineer’s Office, is ready to purchase the required thermoplastic paints and accessories for bicycle lanes, two sets of thermoplastic paint machines, and two sets of road marking removers for the purpose.
Dela Peña, who advocates biking, underscored the said project was seen by mayor Benjamin Magalong as urgent as bicycles have gained popularity as an alternative mode of transportation during this community quarantine.
The installation of bicycle lanes will benefit the cyclists in the city whose number continues to increase, dela Pena said.
Councilor Maylen Yaranon, one of the proponents at the city council for use of bicycle as alternative transportation mode, said that Baguio will be the second in the country after Pasig to have a bike lane.
“We have to do it as soon as possible,” the architect by profession said.
Meanwhile, dela Pena said that other projects that will be funded by the P18.1-million fund are: the construction of the bridge connecting Maya and Aguila Streets at Dizon Subdivision Barangay; installation of international standard road signs and symbols in the city; and electrical system of the temporary garbage station at Marcos Highway.
The city council on Monday approved the request of the executive body to re-appropriate the said fund to the aforesaid projects.
While La Trinidad, Benguet capital, is also looking at providing bike lanes as the clamor for alternative modes of transportation grew.
The La Trinidad town council is only an inch away from approving the installation of bike lanes and funding the installation of safety mechanisms for such.
Artemio A. Dumlao