Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4)— A transport advocate on Tuesday urged Congress to work on a strong nationwide bicycle law and tackle commuter rights amid challenges faced daily by commuters.
“Right now, wala pa kasi talaga tayong (we don’t really have a) bicycle law. So I hope Congress will have that,” Jan Ladyong of the Manila Bike Commuter told CNN Philippines’ Traffic Center.
“I mean, masimulan na magawan ng mga batas, commuter rights, and ‘yun nga, bicycle law. Para meron talagang nasusundan,” he added.
[Translation: I mean, they can start crafting a law, commuter rights, the bicycle law. So we’ll really have a guide.]
In December 2020, Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar filed House Bill No. 8156, which seeks to provide a framework for a bicycle law on a national level to ensure cyclists’ equal and safe access to roads. The proposed measure is pending before the committee level.
As a member of the community, Ladyong said cyclists are “vulnerable” road users, especially when they traverse streets alongside bigger vehicles.
He then gave some tips for fellow bike commuters, including wearing appropriate safety gear, learning hand signals, and wearing bright-colored clothes to be more visible on the road.
