MMDA mulls removing bicycle lane from EDSA (www.philstar.com)

submitted 6 months ago by starscar12@lemm.ee to c/philippines@lemmy.world

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The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is exploring the possibility of removing EDSA’s bicycle lane as part of a study the MMDA is conducting with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider an exclusive motorcycle lane along the highway.

In an interview with dzBB yesterday, acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said there is a proposal suggesting the complete removal of bicycles from EDSA.

“It is still being studied… considering that we (have) probably the only major highway in the world where there are bicycles,” Artes said in Filipino.

He highlighted concerns over the underutilization of the bicycle lane, with only 1,500 cyclists using it daily compared to 170,000 motorcycles going through EDSA per day.

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[-] megane_kun@lemm.ee 3 points 6 months ago

“It is still being studied… considering that we (have) probably the only major highway in the world where there are bicycles,” Artes said in Filipino.

I think EDSA is a stroad. It is pretty much hostile to both pedestrians and cyclists, which can be taken as a reason to double-down on making it more hostile to pedestrians and cyclists.

If the bike lane were to be removed, an alternate one should be made available if the government is really serious about encouraging cycling in Metro Manila. The same is true for pedestrians, too. I am not really holding my breath for that though. Such infrastructure, like EDSA's bike lane, always seems to be an afterthought, as if just putting a bike lane would ensure its use.