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it’s still an uphill battle to win hearts
and establish laws that are pro-cycling.
The good news is that voices are being
heard. Tiklop Society, for example, has
been heavily involved in getting Metro
Manila’s light railway lines to allow
foldable bikes onto their trains, while
The Firefly Brigade is best known for
their push for clean air.
In Congress, four bike-friendly
Senate Bills have been pending
since 2011, the Bicycle Act, the
Bike-Friendly Communities Act, the
Bicycle Commuters Incentives Act, and
the Sustainable Transportation Act.
Petitions continue both online and off to
get these bills passed into law.
Metro Manila may not provide the
same biking experience as Amsterdam,
Copenhagen or Portland — not yet,
anyway — but cycling advocates are
optimistic. “We’d like to see the day
when ‘those who have less in wheels,
will have more in roads.’ An inclusive
development where pedestrians,
runners, daily commuters have mobility
options not limited to cars,” Salaveria
says. The great hope is that everyone
gets an education in road-sharing
etiquette, so that traffic flows freely and
safely for all — whether you’re moving
on 18 wheels or two.
The Trailblazer
Rides a mountain bike and much
prefers the trails because he needs
to escape the urban jungle. Prefers
hike-and-bike apparel to cycling jerseys
or racing bibs. Thrives in the mud and
often forgets to wash it out of his hair or
off his bike.
Bike of choice
An Ellsworth Moment
full suspension, all-mountain bike
Easy rider
Music Producer and member
of SINYMA, an electronic band, Madz
Abubakar (known as Abdel Aziz)
The Roadrunner
Likes all things fast, including bicycles.
Performs due diligence before buying any
bike part to make sure it contributes to a
lighter ride and a faster lap time. Also a
social biker, roadrunners like going on long
rides with friends.
Bike of choice
A ’70s Bianchi Superleggera
Easy rider
Photographer Kai Huang
B I K E T H I S C I T Y
Cebu Pacific flies to Manila from across the network.
PHOTOS
AT MACULANGAN
