The road landscape in the highways and major streets of Metro Manila, and other bustling urban areas of the heavily populated country, has been obviously changing in the past few years. The traffic, considered one of the worst, and to some even the worst in Asia is the reason, hands down. The challenge to resolve it has resulted in various experiments aiming to reduce vehicle volume, ease pressure on peak hours, avoid chaos among aggressive drivers, and improve on passage systems (designated lanes, U-turn, crossing) .
Interestingly, deeper thinking among the disgruntled road users themselves where government bungles has eventually emerged which smacks of clamor for road justice. Prioritize buses as public road transport over cars which carry only 1-5 passengers. Let motorbikes join the fray to shorten travel time. Accommodate bicycles, too which are less costly and have no gas emissions as air pollution is a tandem problem.
Alternative Mobility, a solution
The monthly Kamayan forum hosted by Green Convergence Philippines explored for August the possibility of an urban bike ecosystem through bikes, specifically e-bikes and bamboo bikes.
Misallocation of urban spaces and car-centric policies were identified to be at the root of the poor state of public transport in the metropolis by Ira Cruz, Director of AltMobility PH. In sum, he recommended a change of mindset and progressive solutions to address the problem which has dragged on for years. He cited that only 12 % of the population use cars while buses can accommodate 84 % of commuters that road management should think more of the majority. As for e-bikes, he argued that “there’s a minimum of 7,000 bikes within a 4-hour peak period daily (workdays, supposedly) in 5 key points in EDSA plus inside Mandaluyong, Quezon City and San Juan,” that it’s fair to count them in the road design.
His group is on ongoing discussions with government entities for an inclusive and safe use of the metropolitan roads. He is hopeful of a pending bill in Congress and a plan of the MMDA to give alternative mobility, through bikes, a chance.
Bamboo Bikes, really?
Filipino-American Bryan Benitez McClelland, president and CEO of Bambike, decided to innovate on regular bikes spurred by his environmental background in the US, a volunteer experience in Gawad Kalinga, and a spirit for social enterprise. He thought of using bamboo as a tube frame or bolt component of a bike as it is a renewable resource, is popularly grown in the Philippines that it can be sustainable, and can support the developing bamboo industry. Bambike (short for Bamb Ecological Technology, Inc) which he formally organized in 2015 necessitating his re-settlement in his mother’s country, is “a socio-ecological enterprise that hand-makes bamboo bicycles with fair-trade labor and sustainable building practices”.
His products (bamboo revolution cycles) consider rider purpose and destination – city/town touring, mountain terrain, beach cruising, for kids (bambino), miniature toy, among others. Price range is quite pricey as the product is hand-made requiring longer production time.
McClelland’s company has already received awards for innovation, design, and social entrepreneurship. It also now organizes bambike-based ecotourism tours. Impressed that bamboo bikes are also more resilient than carbon types, he proudly says that his own is now 15 years old.
Scientist Oliver Marasigan of the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of DOST ended the forum with an expanded information on bamboo – different types, strengths, and opportunities.
In the mind of commuters
Are e-bikes and bamboo bikes safe to use in the congested city roads? Can bike riders be disciplined in maneuvering in such spaces? How can they reduce carbon emission that mainly contributes to air pollution? Does government have a plan to make the urban road ecosystem inclusive and good for all? Is there relief and end to the Metro Manila traffic whatever the means of transport? #
Erlie Lopez is a writer, poet, PR consultant, and an environment advocate.
Contact: erlie lopez@gmail.com
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