Intramuros in Manila has a growing bicycle culture. Every year, every day, more locals and tourist are using the bike paths in our city, or are attempting to ride bicycles for transportation and commuting. In light of the dangerous state of bicycling and vehicles interacting unfavorably along our thoroughfares, the students of Mapúa University believes that the Intramuros Administration officials have a duty to address the infrastructure and safety needs of the local cycling community. Presidential Decree No. 1616 states the following: 

Section 3. Functions and Powers

(f) states that both government and private entities to “prepare, adopt, revise and enforce such rules and regulations, implementing guidelines and standards,” pertaining to traffic management, street usage and other related matters.

Under the said Presidential Decree no.1616 , this petition to add cycling lanes in Intramuros falls under the Intramuros Administration jurisdiction that’s why they are the concerned agency to contact about this.

In addition, the following are the advantages of adding Bicycle Lanes:

●      Significantly fewer injuries to cyclists.

●      Improved safety for vehicles making right turns. Bike lanes add to the turning radius at driveways and intersections, reducing the risk of rear-end crashes.

●      Improved safety for motorists who no longer need to cross into the oncoming traffic lane to avoid bicyclists. The added space for bikes means that drivers can stay in their own lanes without swerving to get around.

●      Easier passage for emergency vehicles that need to get around congested traffic. Drivers can pull onto the shoulder or into the bike lane to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

●      Motorists travel at a more uniform speed without the need to slow down for cyclists, increasing the traffic carrying capacity of local roads and highways.

●      Better chances that motorists can avoid accidents or maneuver to make unavoidable accidents less severe.

●      Better visibility for motorists and cyclists entering a roadway from a driveway or side street, along with better turning space and sight distance for all drivers.

The cycling community is an integral part of Intramuros representing both residents and patrons of our local businesses. We feel that this initiative is crucial to the safety of our cyclists and to the continued enhancement of our beautiful heritage. A dedicated bicycle lane on main road will increase livability, encourage students to save money from transportation, and it will be environment friendly. The following are the proposed solutions in preventing accidents within Intramuros:

●      Include adequate signage indicating to cyclists about the existence of the lanes and promoting awareness of cyclists to motorists.

●      Include parking for bicycles

●      Properly and regularly maintain these lanes so that bicycle transportation is possible throughout the year.