She was on the bus heading to work when she heard the news of the lockdown due to Covid-19: from that day Angela, a radiologist at a hospital in Manila, chose one of the few remaining options.
The suspension of all public transport services, the lack of owning a car and the need to provide for a disabled mother and brother told her: walk for hours on foot, or take a bike and use the cycle paths .
I never thought I'd bike to work. When we assistants didn't have the opportunity to use public transport, I tried. At first I was worried, especially on the main roads. However, over time, I got used to it and am now comfortable with it.
She wasn't the only one. Thousands of Filipinos instantly switched from bus or rail transportation to commuting by bicycle. Many people continued to use cycle paths even after public transport services were restored. This new scenario required the attention of the national government, which has elaborated policies to accommodate the growing number of bicycles and ensure that all users could travel safely.
A real tsunami of cycle paths was born from the problem.
The bicycle as an opportunity during the COVID-19 emergency
In September 2020, the Philippine government allocated over $22 million in funding for active mobility infrastructure. Money that led to the largest cycle path construction program in the history of the city: almost 500 kilometers throughout Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. For comparison, the excellent “Change” project which promises to give Milan a network of cycle paths of about 750 kilometers is expected by 2035, 13 years from now. In Manila, all of this happened in less than a year.
Obviously it was an undertaking of prohibitive difficulty. To support it, a joint effort was needed from national bodies, philanthropic associations, even a consultancy from the World Bank, which examined the guidelines produced by the Philippine Department of Transportation.
A real call to arms: road safety experts and groups of citizens involved in focus groups have created a "zip" between the community, legislators and builders. A series of training courses was promoted taking as a model the principles of the Dutch cycle path infrastructure, considered the best in the world.
Among the "school desks" there were everyone: national government operators, local authorities, the academic world, NGOs, private companies. Everyone learning to improve.
The result? A triumph.
Limited resources, big impact
In just 9 months, Manila was able to build around 500 kilometers of cycle paths on national roads. This multisectoral effort has significantly increased the reputation of the bicycle as a reliable and sustainable means of transport. It empowered citizens, inspired governments and local communities.
With the growth of the bicycle lane network in the Philippines, healthcare workers like Angela now have another safe and healthy way to get around.
“I will continue to use my bicycle to get to and from work and home, even after Covid,” says Angela. “Not only will it reduce pollution, but it will also help me keep fit”
