BACOLOD City Councilor Sonya Verdeflor has reiterated her request to concerned offices to conduct a study on the possibility of putting up motorcycle and bicycle lanes on the main highways in the city.
Her request was addressed to the City Mayor's Office (CMO), Bacolod Traffic Authority Office-Bacolod Traffic Management Unit (BTAO-TMU), and the Office of Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya Verdeflor, who authored the resolution on putting up of motorcycle and bicycle lanes, said that lack of separate lanes for motorcycles and bicycles is primarily contributing to the high occurrence of accidents in the main highway and major streets in the city.
She said the occurrence of motorcycle accidents usually happen when the rider overtakes heavy trucks and private vehicles on highways and major streets.
Verdeflor added that this case was actually reflective in a triple vehicular accident last November 20, involving a motorcycle and two private vehicles that killed two persons and injured four others at the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.
Verdeflor said traffic vehicular accidents report in Bacolod likewise has alarmingly increased to a very high level thereby, putting at risk the lives and limbs of so many commuters every day.
“In order to protect our motorcycle and bicycle riders from vehicular accidents in our main highways and major streets, there is an urgent need for our CMO, BTAO-TMU, and the office of Rep. Gasataya to conduct a study of putting up a motorcycle and bicycle lanes in the city,” she added.
A measure establishing bicycle lanes in all primary and secondary roads in the country had earlier been filed before the House of Representatives.
Under the measure, Local Bikeways Office (LBO) was sought to be created under the direct administration and supervision of the Local Government Units (LGUs).
The LBO shall manage the construction and maintenance of bikeways within the respective local government unit, establish provision for the safety of cyclists, as well as the pedestrians, establish partnership with local or foreign organization.