Author: climaterealityph

“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.

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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.

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On behalf of the Mobility Awards convenors, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) inclusive urban mobility advisor and MNL Moves founder Aldrin Pelicano said:

“The post-pandemic return to normalcy has unmasked a truth that we can not ignore: cycling is not the culprit behind traffic congestion; it is predominantly caused by our overdependence in driving motorized vehicles. As we envision a future where cities thrive with cleaner air, inclusive mobility, and enhanced livability, it is imperative that we prioritize reliable, clean, sustainable, and inclusive modes of transport.

“Recent decisions made by city governments, such as the removal of bollards in bicycle lanes, have raised serious concerns regarding the safety and well-being of cyclists and pedestrians in cities around the Philippines. The latest data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clearly suggests that a growing community of cyclists is using our roads as everyday transport. The removal of safe passages for cyclists not only hampers their ability to move around, but also places them in greater danger. This contradicts the commitment and shared vision of the Mobility Awards and past city winners to supposedly prioritize the mobility needs of the majority and promote sustainable urban living. The decision to remove bollards must be met with stronger proactive measures to protect cyclists and pedestrians, such as implementing slower speed limits, observing safe space for non-motorists to prioritize access,  and allocating wider sidewalks for pedestrians. Unless these strategic measures are in place, abrupt removals of segregated bollards and other safety facilities endangers non-motorists on our roads.

“Cities that have previously stood out during the first and second year of the Mobility Awards for their commitment to people-centric mobility have an unparalleled opportunity to inspire and lead. In light of these developments, we urge cities, particularly those who have previously been recognized as Mobility Awards awardees, to step up and set a positive example by providing inclusive, cleaner transport options for hardworking Filipinos. 

“While we call on cities to step up, we also urge Filipinos to challenge your local leaders and governments. Nominate deserving and forward-looking cities, business establishments and workplaces, and demand others to level up their bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly initiatives. Cities should empower its people to move freely, conveniently, and safely, allowing citizens to become more productive and provide safely and generously for their families. Nominating your city for the Mobility Awards is more than just a recognition of your efforts – it is a commitment to a better, safer, and brighter future for all.”

The Mobility Awards, led by its convenors ICSC, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, 350 Pilipinas, MNL Moves, and Pinay Bike Commuter Community, also organized Bilang Siklista, a citizen-led national bicycle count held in major cities nationwide that aims to provide evidence-based justification for investing in better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Results from this year’s count will be published on September 22.

Meanwhile, this year’s installment of the Mobility Awards will end its nomination period on September 7, and will announce the awardees for 2023 in October. Visit https://www.mobilityawards.ph/ for more information.