Author: climaterealityph

A total of 147,800 cyclists were recorded by 817 volunteers through the Bilang Siklista Bike Count project. In its third year of implementation, Bilang Siklista conducted counts in 17 cities across the country, during a 4-hour peak time in the morning and afternoon, on seven different weekdays in June and July. This year’s findings showed a decrease in the number of cyclists, compared to the recorded 191,578 cyclists in 2022.

“The decline in the number of cyclists have been attributed by volunteers to unsafe road conditions, including deteriorating conditions of bike lanes and encroachment of motorists in designated bike lanes; the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on public transport; and the continuous rains that poured on the days of the count. However, Quezon City and Mandaue City emerged as exceptions as they recorded an increase in number of cyclists compared to previous counts done by the Mobility Awards; this was attributed to consistent improvements in their bike lane infrastructure and programs,” said Mobility Awards National Coordinator Arielle Celine Tabinga in a press briefing today.

“The increasing number of cities participating in the count showed that more cities are embracing the potential of cycling as a daily transport option, and are recognizing the importance of data on road users, including the cycling public, to inform road improvement projects such as bike lanes. The growing number of volunteers who showed up to count people on bicycles is a testament that they too want to do their part in helping their city’s bike lane projects succeed and make wise use of public investments for bike lanes,” Tabinga added.  

Bilang Siklista also examined how much carbon emissions are avoided and savings are generated in terms of fuel costs for 147,800 people on bicycles. Results showed that per kilometer travelled, 147,800 cyclists helped reduce 36.74 metric tons of carbon emissions, and save up to PHP 615,207 worth of fuel. 

The report also revealed persistent disparities in cyclist demographics. Similar to last year’s data, the gender gap remains substantial, with females comprising only 4 percent of the total cyclists. 

“We encourage other cities and local governments to systematically count all road users, not only motorized vehicles, but also cyclists and pedestrians. This should be an integral part of cities’ transport and infrastructure monitoring systems that would better inform their local transport and investment planning ,” said Aldrin Pelicano, MNL Moves founder and one of the convenors of the Mobility Awards.

Prior to the launch of Bilang Siklista findings, a survey released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that one out of three households in the Philippines, amounting to around 10 million households in total, own at least one bicycle. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also released the results of a year-long bike count they conducted in 2022, where over 1.7 million bicycle trips were recorded along Ortigas Avenue, Quirino Highway, and Commonwealth Avenue.

“Manual counts, such as Bilang Siklista, are not perfect data collection tools, and can be further complemented by smart technologies already available. Cities can always mobilize the power of their own citizens and volunteers to help generate data, especially if manpower resources are missing,” Pelicano added.

***

“The MMDA confirms what we’ve been saying all along: that there is momentum for a mobility revolution—driven by clean, fossil fuel-free, noise-free vehicles powered by hardworking Filipinos,” added Aldrin Pelicano, ICSC’s Inclusive Mobility Advisor and founder of the online community MNL Moves.

“The [bike count] shows that truly, when we give space for people on bikes in our streets, they will choose cycling over driving motor vehicles. Not only does it help ease the constant pressure on our public transport but also contributes to reducing road congestion. The challenge now is to ensure the bike lanes are safe and connected for everyone to use and get them to their destinations.”

To keep the cycling momentum going, the Mobility Awards aims to recognize those who helped pave the road for more inclusive and sustainable mobility in the country. Nominations for this year’s Mobility Awards are open until September 7, the public is encouraged to nominate bike-friendly cities, workplaces, and establishments in the country in its final week.

The Mobility Awards is the first citizen-led, incentive-driven campaign encouraging the citizens, workers, and consumers to recognize cities, private companies, and employers who have taken measures towards better, safer, and more accessible mobility for the 88 percent of Filipino households who do not own cars.

Aldrin describes the Mobility Awards as an exercise in democracy. At its heart, the initiative is a call for Filipinos to take ownership of their rights, engage with governance, and appeal to their cities to improve conditions for urban mobility.

This year’s Awards is also open for individuals under the Padyak Power to the People! Awards, namely Siklista ng Bayan and Padyak Champion categories. In celebrating those who choose to cycle, these award titles humanize and put a face to the conversation on active transport, Aldrin adds. The stories of hardworking Filipinos serving their communities while experiencing firsthand the struggles of cycling in a car-centric urbanscape are as deserving of recognition.

For LGUs, workplaces, and establishments looking to make strides in their own bike-friendly practices, Aldrin advises starting small. The Mobility Awards is an opportunity to learn from nominees but even a simple bike rack encourages customers and staff to choose cycling as a sustainable mode of transport. Regular commuters, too, have a far-reaching influence in sharing their experiences of getting around on bike with others. As more and more people adopt urban mobility practices, it sets an example for the rest of the country to follow suit in a shared vision of better cities for all.

The Mobility Awards is jointly organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, MNL Moves, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, 350 Pilipinas, and Pinay Bike Commuter Community, in partnership with League of Cities Philippines and regional partners across the country.

The public can submit their nominations through mobilityawards.ph/nominate until September 7. The awardees will be announced in October in advance observance of World Cities’ Day.

Click here to learn more about this year’s nominations and categories for the Mobility Awards.

***

This article was written and originally published by Grid Magazine.

A significant increase from the past two years, with 7.3 million cyclists recorded in April 2022 and 6.2 million cyclists estimated in May 2021, the recent SWS findings highlight the growing reliance of many Filipinos on bicycles for transport, livelihood, and recreation. This year’s respondents cited economic benefits, health improvements, financial savings, and reduced travel time as their main reasons for cycling.

In response, Mobility Awards National Coordinator Arielle Celine Tabinga said:

“The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has already said that a bike revolution is underway. The latest SWS survey provides solid evidence that this movement is not only persisting but steadily gaining momentum. With Filipino citizens leading the change, our collective vision of a safer and more inclusive transportation system is clear. Bicycles are no longer confined as a recreational pastime; but instead have emerged as a dependable, healthy, affordable, and convenient mode of transportation for Filipinos.

While we are headed in the right direction, conditions are still far from optimal. We still have a lot of work to do, and we need all hands on deck to ensure that Filipinos are secure and comfortable in our streets and shared spaces across the country. We call on our leaders in the national and local governments – in particular, the MMDA, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Transportation (DoTr), and city executives – to pave the way and work together to provide safe and interconnected infrastructures to cyclists, pedestrians, and commuters.

While the data proves that more Filipinos are cycling, the nomination period of this year’s Mobility Awards has shown that many citizens are concerned that current efforts are falling short. Despite the survey indicating a rising number of Filipino cyclists, there is a resounding sentiment among bicycle users that only a handful of cities, establishments, and workplaces are stepping up to the changing times. With this increase in cyclists must come the development of policies, programs, and infrastructure to prioritize active mobility and respond to bicycle commuters’ growing needs.

In the Mobility Awards’ final week of nominations, we continue to challenge lagging cities, businesses, and workplaces to heed the call of the significant number of Filipino bicycle users. Seize the opportunity to advance inclusive, responsive, and clean transport options in our cities, and the true rewards of good work come from citizens who benefit from and recognize your acts of leadership.”

The Mobility Awards is co-convened by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC),  The Climate Reality Project Philippines, 350 Pilipinas, MNL Moves, and Pinay Bike Commuter Community. Nominations are still open for this year’s installment, and will end on September 7. Visit https://www.mobilityawards.ph/ for more information.

***