THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has a new project to beautify the streets of Intramuros for the people of Manila.
On Tuesday, March 28, the DOTr led the groundbreaking ceremony of their beautification project in Intramuros.
By How? By building bike lanes throughout the walled city.
As well as additional public transport stops.
The expansion of the project includes the 9.6 kilometers of Class 1, 2, and 3 bike lanes; the construction of a pedestrian walkway with PWD-accessibility ramps; and four (4) public transport stops along the district.
According to the plan, the DOTr will use colored bricks for the bike lane to make it more visible to motorists.
“The expansion of the active public transport infrastructure in Intramuros is in line with the mission of IA to advance urban development within the walls of Intramuros,” said Atty. Joan Padilla, Intramuros Administrator.
“I am proud to put my stamp of approval on this initiative. The expansion of active and public infrastructure here in Intramuros,” said Sec. Jaime Bautista, Transportation Secretary.
This DOTr project is a welcome development for cyclists.
Together with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority in partnership with the Intramuros Administration, this momentous occasion will mark the start of a new era for sustainable transportation in Intramuros.
“I’m so excited. I said, as a bike commuter and working here in Intramuros. Intramuros will now be safe for bike commuters like me because I know that many of us who are working here cycle to work, and it also adds to the tourists who also cycle especially on Saturdays and Sundays. They will feel very welcome that they are in Intramuros because Intramuros will now be ready for bicycles,” said John Pablo, Bambike Revolution Cycles.
Meanwhile, Sec. Bautista directs LGUs to monitor bike lanes that are being converted into parking lots.
The DOTr Chief says offenders should be apprehended.
“That shouldn’t, that shouldn’t be. Because those bike lanes are exclusively for bikers, isn’t it? It should not be a parking space,” added Bautista.
