VIDEO: Cyclists, joggers welcome CCP bike lanes

Last September 12, more than 500 bikers and joggers attended the launch of the “Green Lane" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City. The “Green Lane" is a 3.5 kilometer route within the CCP Complex that will be for the dedicated use of cyclists, joggers, and other users of non-motorized transport. The CCP complex will also close some of its roads (specifically, the area from Liwasang Ullalim up to the floating restaurant) to vehicular traffic on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. According to Chris Millado, Manager of the Performing Arts Department of the CCP, the cultural center first considered putting up bike lanes after organizing an Earth Day celebration several years ago with several environmental organizations, including Haribon and the Winner Foundation. "Earth Day should be celebrated every day not just once a year. We decided that this was the project that would sustain our efforts throughout the year," said Millado. By encouraging the use of non-motorized transport, the CCP hopes to reduce vehicular traffic and air pollution in the area. In recent years, the CCP Complex has become a main thoroughfare for motorists travelling from Macapagal Boulevard to Roxas Boulevard. Millado said that this has increased standstill traffic and air pollution within the complex. The Green Lane Route:
View CCP Green Lane in a larger map CCP worked with the Firefly Brigade, a group that advocates bicycle-friendly roads, to make sure the new bike lanes will be properly planned and managed. Before the new bikes lanes were launched, CCP also had to get the cooperation of dining establishments at nearby Harbour Square, where bicycles were previously banned from entering. "We encouraged them to take down their signs that say, 'no bikes allowed.' The signs now say, 'Walk your bike, yield to pedestrians,'" said Millado. Even without the bike lanes, CCP has long been a popular weekend destination for cyclists, pedestrians, health buffs, and dog-walkers. The new bike-friendly roads are expected to draw more visitors. “I learned how to bike in CCP and having bike lanes back in CCP is a statement that there is a place for bikes on the road," said Ricky Pineda, President of the Firefly Brigade. “We are also taxpayers and we have a right to the road just like pedestrians and other forms of non-motorized transportation." - HS, GMANews.TV