P50-M bike lanes in Baguio City set

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- A P50 million 14-km bike lane along primary city roads is set to be implemented here.
    City Engineer Edgar Victorio Olpindo informed city executives recently during a management committee meeting presided by City Administrator Bonifacio dela Pena, and virtually attended by Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
     Included in the project are city streets’ concrete pavements, curb and gutter with wider sidewalks, pavement markings and bike warning or regulatory signs.
    At the city’s main thoroughfare, Session road, international standards on mobility shall be followed thus promenades or wider pedestrian spaces, bike lanes and greenery along the sides, with set furniture shall be installed.       
     According to Olpindo, the project is in consonance with the inverted pyramid for mobility or transport which prioritizes bike lanes, pedestrians, public transportation, over commercial vehicles and trucks, high occupancy vehicles and lastly, single occupancy cars.

 The main or primary bike lanes would be along City hall-Legarda road-Marcos highway, 1.50 km; City Hall Harrison road-Kalaw-Baguio Convention Center, 1.80 km; Harrison road-Bonifacio-Manuel Roxas, 1.30km; Loakan-Apugan-Panagbenga park-North Drive, 6.40 km; Panagbenga park to BGH rotunda, 1.30 km; Gov. Pack road to BGH rotunda, 1.40 km.   

Secondary bike lanes to follow for inter-connected routes are those going to Ambiong, La Trinidad, Marcos Highway, Loakan; the city limits or boundaries towards the La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (LISTT) municipalities. 

The project was coordinated with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and has been inspected, Olpindo further said.