Over 1,000 frontline workers given bikes, cycle to work

More than 1,000 frontline workers have received bicycles from private organizations dedicated to helping them get to their workplaces amid limited public transport during the community quarantine.

According to Howie Severino’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, Life Cycles PH was founded on the desire to help frontliners move around the metro.

“No’ng in-announce nila na walang mass transport, naiyak talaga ko no’n and naisip ko at ng isang grupo overnight na kailangan natin dalhin ‘yung mga frontliners natin pauwi na safe na hindi naglalakad, so nagtayo kami ng Life Cycles PH on the first day of enhanced community quarantine pa lang,” Keisha Mayuga said.

In just two months, the group has generated over P3 million donations for bicycles for frontliners.

Other similar donation drives and bike-lending projects have come to fruition in various areas since then.

“Hindi lang mga ospital ‘yung binibigyan namin, mga malls din ang LGUs dahil frontliners din naman [sila],” Mayuga said.

“Ngayon, kailangan ng talaga ng proper protected bike lanes at proper infrastructure dahil sa loob ng two months lang, at magte-three months na, dumami talaga ‘yung bisikleta sa kalye,” she added.

Last week, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted a dry run with Life Cycles PH and other similar groups for a bike lane along EDSA. 

However, the MMDA said they cannot guarantee exactly when bike lanes will become permanent on EDSA.

MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said the Departments of Transportation, Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways, and Health will craft a joint memorandum on active transport.

“Magkakaroon po ng joint administrative order… para po isulong ang active transport kung saan makikita po natin ang karagdagang bike lanes, ang pagtatayo ng bike racks. Magkakaroon din po ng walkways at pathways,” she said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News