First phase of Baguio bike lane project ongoing

The first phase of the city’s bike lane project to cover selected roads at the central business district and Loakan Road is now being implemented. 

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the project is part of the city’s Micro-Baguio Initiative to transform Baguio into a “20-minute city” as conceptualized jointly by the City Planning and Development Office, City Engineering Office and the City Environment and Parks Management Office.

CPDO Coordinator Arch. Donna Tabangin said the goal is “for all of us being able to go about our daily activities within a 20-minute travel time from our homes and vice versa through walking, cycling, and modern public transport conveyances.”

The concept also envisions the city’s roads to become community spaces eventually to be transformed to accommodate various modes of mobility.

“Wide roads will be able to contain dedicated lanes but for narrow ones, which are plenty, let use share these lanes.  All of us will have to play a responsible role in the sharing,” Tabangin said. 

City Engr. Edgar Victorio Olpindo said the first phase of the bike lane project will cover 14 kilometers at a cost of P50 million.

The routes are:

CBD bike loop: Justice Hall to Kalaw St.;

Connectors: Baguio General Hospital Rotunda to Panagbenga Park and Gov. Pack Road to BGH Rotunda;

Outer routes: Loakan-Apugan to Leonard Wood Road; Harrison Road to M. Roxas St. via Magsaysay Ave-Bonifacio St.; and City Hall to Marcos Highways via Legarda Road.

According to Olpindo, the project is in consonance with the inverted pyramid for mobility or transport that prioritizes bike lanes, pedestrians and public transportation over commercial vehicles and trucks, high-occupancy vehicles and single-occupancy cars.

It was studied, planned and completed in coordination with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways and stakeholders.

The next phase of the project will cover other urban streets and major roads in the city, Olpindo said. — Aileen P. Refuerzo