DOTr and SM unveil 'biker's manual'

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and SM Cares launched a so-called "biker's manual" during a virtual program today, April 21, 2021.

Present in the virtual event were DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, Assistant Secretaries Goddes Libiran and Steve Pastor, Department of Health (DOH) Health Program Officer Dasha Uy, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, and officials and representatives from local government, foreign, and private sectors.

Following DOTr’s Active Transport Guidelines, the Active Transport biker's manual and video materials aim to promote public road safety, courtesy, and etiquette among the bike riders, pedestrians, and motorists. The said passport-sized manual will be printed in both English and Filipino and will be distributed for free in all SM Malls nationwide. 

“Together with the DOTr, we came up with this manual to educate the public about the importance of sharing the road to avoid accidents,” said Steven Tan. “We have printed around 140,000 copies of the manual to be distributed nationwide,” he added.

A network of bike lanes is in the works as DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar aim to increase accessibility to key activity areas and fundamental facilities while significantly decreasing carbon emission.

According to Secretary Tugade, the agency has completed a total of 296 kilometers of bike lanes. “It is only the beginning,” he commented. “In fact, it is desired and intended that by the end of this year we would have completed 535 kilometers of bike lane.” 

DOTr Assistant Secretary Steve Pastor added that in accordance with Bayanihan II (Bayanihan to Recover as One Act) P1.3 billion was allocated for the Active Transport program where P1.1 billion was apportioned for the establishment of bike lane network. Approximately P800 million was allotted for Metro Manila, P150 million for Metro Cebu, and P150 million for Metro Davao.

The virtual launch of the DOTr-SM biker's manual is the first of many materials that aim to educate the public about the benefits of the Active Transport program and how we can share the road with bikers and pedestrians. Check out the video materials and the downloadable version of the manual here. 

Photo from SM and DOTr

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