| Since the COVID-19 Pandemic the dynamic of life has changed all over the world. There’s so much to tackle with social issues and other major challenges that everyone has to deal with. But there are also the little things that matter most that can impact the way things are happening all of a sudden. With that there also trends to in how people deal with the situation every given day.
In the Philippines, with the suspension of public transport, the population turns to other modes of transport namely, the push bikes or if you have the money to burn there are also the electric two wheels like the scooter. With that changes to how the road and street have given away to these types of vehicles sometimes it doesn’t really worth the adjustment if the lack of space to have them in particular streets. |
Recently, the City of Makati has slowly made some additional changes to the main roads and streets to accommodate bike lanes for pushbikes, which is good for the community now relying on these modes of transport. Everyone can afford a regular pushbike from the basics to the ones with all the bells and whistles.
It is impressive how the nation has slowly adapted immediately in making the bicycles being loved when before the pandemic nobody even bother to have them have their own lane with most of them taken what’s left of the shrinking sidewalks due to some vehicles park over them like there’s no term ‘sidewalk’ anymore for the average pedestrian that it’s quite annoying for some who are forced to walk on the roads.
Lanes of Congestions
Of course, with the rise of interest to own a pushbike there is also a demand to have them get their own bike lanes, which in other countries is so ‘normal’ it became a special thing in this country to the point they would have a parade for it. But in reality, putting a bike lane means it is not for a publicity stunt or an excuse to put one due to the so-called ‘hype’ or ‘trend’ when it should be planned properly by the local government on how to make them accessible, functional, and an actual need.
That being said, not all streets or roads are created equal to ever have a bike lane, because it also causes some serious complex challenges in how to go about it. Makati City never had a bike lane and for the very first time, they are adding it to the main heart of the Central Business District, which is in Ayala Avenue itself.
For those not from this country the origin of Makati City or the CBD itself started as the very first airport for the country. The whole part of the land that used to be the international airport was owned by the Zobel de Ayalas, which would become the city presently and the rest was history, The main thoroughfare became Ayala Avenue and that is the main street for this city and if you live in South Australia particularly familiar with downtown Adelaide its counterpart will be King William Street.
No Proper Guide and Set Up
King William Street is as wider than Ayala Avenue and properly had an urban development. But it never had a designated bike lane although there’s part of this street that is allowed for you to pass through. Putting a bike lane takes careful planning and the city ordinance has even put a guide, which part of the city you need to take the proper route as they carefully made sure for safety reasons and not for aesthetics that they made sure the right directions.
The one in Ayala Avenue in the CBD starting before the corner of Amorsolo Street up to the corner before EDSA (Epifanio De los SAntos) Avenue is the newly installed Bike Lane. It is refreshing but at the same time an added congestion to what is already a traffic-heavy street. Not only that the concept of the bike lane along Ayala Avenue doesn’t allow public transport to even park at the designated stops, since there are barriers that would be an inconvenience for the pedestrians to drop off or take a ride at the same time there’s traffic on that lane already for it to be a helpful idea.
It would be better if the urban developers had planned ahead as a long term to have put this together including a certain guide and proper routes that have bike lanes instead of just adding it to the main street that has been already crowded in the first place. Whoever got this idea it wasn’t properly planned just appears to be a short term and desperate appeal to tell everyone “Hey we have a bike lane, take this route!” It’s actually not pleasing to see senior citizens alighting from the Jeepney or a bus struggling to take a ride would need to cross the bike lane.
No Restriction for a Helmet Policy
Aside from the weak concept of no proper bike routes and lanes, it is also a place with no strict policy about wearing proper bicycle gear. Sure, you have acquired a bicycle but you can’t even by a helmet? Surely, Makati City won’t be responsible if you end up having your brains splatter in their swanky street.
It is unbelievable that this country does not actually value the safety of its community. The Central Business District of Makati prides itself and tries to be a world-class city, but when it comes to policies and restrictions they just allow bike riders with no proper gear or even a helmet is surely a substandard concept that is below other countries thrive to make sure bike rides are supposed to be safe with a helmet.
Every city in the Philippines should impose at least wearing a helmet for pushbikes as well as electric two-wheel vehicles like the scooter. There have been several sightings of these riders not wearing proper safety gear and that includes the delivery riders from Grab and Food Panda. It’s absolutely rubbish how they allow them not to wear safety gear. The city and other establishments won’t allow you to enter their premises without a face mask and face shield, but they allow bike riders not wearing proper helmets and other safety gear or even proper attire when you ride a pushbike is quote a primitive mentality.
Lastly, the concept of a bike lane is great, but for those assigned to install them in the CBD surely just only thought about Ayala Avenue as the only part of the city. They were probably not thinking the ‘bigger picture’ to have a proper guide and route, where the riders should be allowed for their safety and not just an excuse for publicity that the main street of Makati has one.
Another poor judgment of idea that will add more problems than an actual solution for everyone and this is an obvious marketing tactic rather than a helpful way to help the bike riders for making it Makati.
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