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Repullic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousEBIELNo.7753
Introduced by Representative Eduardo Roa Rama ]..
EXPIANATORY N OTE
TheuseOfbicydesasamodeofsafeandefficienttiansportationisnotnovel[otheFilipino.
However, due to the heavy traffic and a more positive disposidon towards active ljfest}'lcs, more and
more Fflipinos have decided to get on their bikes to get from one point to another.
AccordingtoaSWSsurvey,20%ofhouseholdsormedatleastonebicyclebyMay2021.while
5%ofhouscholdsindicatedthattheyownedafour-whededmotorvehicle,outnumbcringthemotor-
vehicleusersbyast4ggering4:1rafro.`Similarly,asurveycommi§sionedbytheDepamentofHealth
in 2020 shows that 85% of Firipinos agrcc that their city- or municipality could bccomc a great place
foreydingorwalking,andafiirther87%agree].ngthatourcjticsarebcttcroffwithcydingandwalkjng
beingprioridzedoverprivatevchiclee.Z
Despite  the  aforen]endoned  facts,  bicycles  have  been  largely  invisible  to  transportahon
plannersandgovenmentofficialsinthedrafungofurfuandevelopmentpha§,trafficplansandpoticy
developmcnL There arc no set and clear guidelines to cnsute that cycling is safer for Fhipinos. This
leSslative  measure  sccks  to  institudonalize  a  framework  for  the regulation  of cyclists  by  dearly
defroing the  rights,  duties, and  their obligations.  Morcovcr,  on  the part of the govcmment,  this
measure sccks to cnsurc the safety of the eycfists and the riding pubhic by mandaing the creation of
I Bos§hard. H. "SWS: Bike usage incrcascd in PH ding the pandcrfuc... 7 February 2022. https://visor.ph/bikes/swS-
bikcs-arc-prcfened-mode-of-trauspo~in-ph/
2Id.
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bikewaysandinterconnectingbicydelanenetwofksandintcgratingthesametoinfrastructureprojects
nationwide.It'sabouttimethatwccrcatepohcicsandbulldinfrastructurcthatbcncfittheridingpubtic
by ensuing that they can travd oa their bikes safely, as in the end we carl all benefit from a much
more livable country.
Thus. the passage of this bin is earnestly sought.
EDUARDO BOA RAMA 7R.
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Republic of the Prmppincs
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTII CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousEBIELNo.7753
Introduced by Repre8entadve Eduardo Roa Rama Jf .
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR BICYCIE RIGHTS, CREATION 0F LOCAL BIREWAYS
OFFlcE aLBO], ESTABI.ISHING INFRASTRucTURE IN RELATION THERETO
AND FOR OTHER PURTOSES
Be it cmtted ky tbt Sends and the Hottle Of Rrtyr€Senteduel Of lbe Pbiltrpin€5 in Coiigreli aJlemlbled:
1      SECTION 1. Short Thtlc. -This Act shall bc haoun as the "Philippine Bicycle Act."
2      SECTION 2. Declaration ofpofty. -It is the poliey of the state to protect and promote the right
3       to health ofthc people and instill health con§ciousnes§ among them and to protect and adrrance the
4      right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology jn accord with the rh}thm and harmony of
5       nature.
6      Likewise, in view of the fluc"adng fuel pdces in the wodd market, the state recognizes the nccd ft]r
7       cheaper  alternative  means   of  transportation   and  encourages   chc  use  of  nan-motorized  and
8       environment ffiendly modes oftran§poft.
9      SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For the purpose ofdis Act the tcrli[u
10             a,    "Bicycle" means any two whcelcd vehidc having a rear drive which i§ solely hurmn powercd
11                     and having a seat height of25 inches of greater when the scat is in the lowest possible position;
12             b.   "Local Bikeway8 Office (mo)" refers to the agency in charge of implrmenting pohicics.
13                    rules and regulations perinent to tis Acq
14              c.    "Cycn8t" sliall refer to drivers ofbicydes;
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d.   "Department" shall refer to the Department of Phbhc W'ocks and mgivays;
e.    .`Driver" means any person who drives a vchjcle, motorized or nonmotorized;
f.    "Lane" means any lonsttudinal strips designated for passage of bicycles;
9.    "Nan-Motorized Transport quMT)" means any vehicle which docs n{tt use a motorized
enrfue;
h.   "Road" means the endrc Surface of any way or street open to public traffic.
7      SECTION 4. Creation ofBikeways. -AH main roads and hishways shaH be provided with
8       Bic}`clc I.aces or <bikeunys" identified by the Local Bikoways office under the superv].sion of the cit}'
9       or municipal engineering office.
10      SECTION 5. Powers and Functions of the Local Bikeway§ Office. -The LEO shall be
11       an  adjunct of the  city or municipal enginceiing officc  and  shall have  the  fouowing  powers  and
12      haedons:
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a.    To   manage  the   constmction   and  maintenance  of  a  bikcway   network   including   the
idendficationofabikewayroadmap;
b.   To  establish  provision  of safe  and  strategic  parking  facilities.  road  signngcs  and  maps,
indudingtheplanchgoftrcesindesignatedareasofthcnetwork;
c.    To encourage partricrship with local and  foreign  orgahizadons  to  facilitate  easy  access  to
bieycles;
d.   To conduct education and info"don drives on the bcnefits of using bicycles or NMTs in
order to promote the usage of the sane;
c.   To cause all bicydc§ operating on chc bikewa}Ts to be redstcred and detcrminc therefore die
rrunner of such rcsttndou;
f.    To  rmintin and keep a bicycle registry where the mo, within sirty  (60)  days  from  the
approval  Of this  Act  shall  have  formulated  a  syston  of proccdurc  pertinent  to  bicvc]c
reedstration.
27      SEerl0N 6. Estaundrent ofa Nadonal Bike ptoglrm. -Within 6 months from the issuance
28      of Intcrnd Rules and Rgguladons aRR), the DOTr in coordinadon with DPWH and NEDA. sham
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1       come up with a National Bike program which sham formulate the policies and roadmap on the national
2       and local bic}'cle transportation system.
3       SECTION 7. Bieyde park -Each city or municipality shall create, tlirough the LBo and the city
4       or municipal enstneering office, a Bieycle park where provisions for bicycles are present such as but
5       not limited to bikeways, bicycle parking areas and similar infra§tnicturc. Such Bicycle parks shaH be
6       finded by the city or municipality b}+ allocating thirty percent (30%) of their respective reveriues raised
7       from misceuaneous activities Eke packing and license fees.
8      SECTION. 8. Bieycle Awarene§§ Program. -The secretary of DOTr, in cooperation with the
9      Department of Education pcpEd), the comndssion on Higher Education (.CHED), and the LGUs,
10       shat estabnsh an educadonal program to increase awareness of bike safety and road sharing.   The
11       program shall be designed for eydists, traffic enforcers, motorists, and all road users. The program
12       sham indude the fonowing:
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14             a.   Traffic cdrcation and enforcement;
15              b.   Motorist Awareness and Road-Sharing; and
16               c.    Bicycle and pedestrian §afet}T.
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18      SECTION 9. Rights, Duties and ObHgation8 of Cyclists. - Tlic following sham be the rightst
19       duties and oblisations ofcycHsts:
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a.    Ride on any pubtic road or street pmvided that it has been designated as a bikewa}. except
higivays or where Signs specifically pmhibiting bikes have been posted;
b.   Every person riding a bicycle on the designated bikeways shall be granted an [hc rights and
shall be subjcc[ to an the dudes apphcable to drivers of motorized vchidcs except those which
by their nature are inappucable;
c.    A trader or semitraller maybe attached to the bicycle;
d.   fight and left turn stgrials shall bc given not less than 100 feet from turn and whi]c stopped
waidng to t`1m Such signals may be given intermittendy rather than continuousl}. if the hand
giving the signal is nccded to control the bieycle;
c.    An audible signal shall be given before overtaking;
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f.    When riding at njcht, a bicycle `chall be equlppcd with reflcctivc material visible from both
sides for at least six hundred (600) feet, or a lighted lamp visible from both sides for at least
five hundred (500) feet from a motor vehicle;
9.    A bicydc and its corresponding cyclist may bc equipped with additional lights and rcf]ectors;
h.   A cyclist shall keep one hand on the handlebar at all tiines;
i.     A cychist must always wear a helmet properly where the chin strap is sccurcly fastened;
i.     Every bic}-de shall be equipped with brakes that are capable of stopping the bicycle within
twenty-five (25) feet from a speed of 10mph on dry, clean level pavement;
9      SEerloN 10. Re§tdcdons. -The fonowing arc restricdons inposed upon cycfists and the richt to
10      uscabicyde:
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a.    No bicycle shall carry more persons that it was designed to carry except wheri another reghar
scat or trailer towed by the hicydc js present;
b.   Pusons riding a bicycle shall flot cling to another vchid€ while in the desigmted bikeway
c.    Bieycles may not bc parted in areas other than those specifically designated as such by the
CBO;
d.    A eycli§t sham not ride a bicycle on a sidewalk or crosswalk;
c.    A  eycHst shall not carry anything on the bicycle unless it is  in a  basket, bag, rack or trailer
designed for that purpose;
f.    A modified hicycle is not allowed on the bikcways, or that which makes the hands higher than
the Shoulders when gripping the handlebars;
9.   Ownership or custodyofa bieyde which has a destroyed, removed, altered, covered or defaced
serial number;
h.   No person shall operate a bicycle at a Speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the
condidoos then existing.
26      SEorl0N ll. Obedience to Trfuc Iowa and Devices. -Any person operating a bic}'clc shall
27       obey the instnictions of official traffic control signs, and other control devices appucable to vehicles,
28       unless otherwise directed by a polfcc officer. Whenever authorized sigris arc posted, a person operating
29      a bieyclc chan not disobey the drcction of such sign cxccpt when that person dianounts from the
30       bieyde, in which case Such person Shall then obey the regulations appHcchlc to pedestrians. No person
31       sham ride or operate a hieycle in an}' direction cxcqpt that perndtted for vchiular traffic travehag
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1       onthesame sideofthebikeway.
2      SECTION ra. nagging By a police officer. -A ulformed pohice officer, or any deputized traffic
3       officer,  may  scop]  inspect  and  test a  bicycle  that  is  §uspectcd  to  be  unsafe  or  to  have  improper
4      equipment Hc may also stop any cychit operathg the bicycle in such a manner as to pose danger to
5       others.
6      SECTION rs. hiding on Bieyde Lanes. - Every person operadng a bicycle upon a designated
7       bikeway lane shall remain inside such lane, exerdsing due care when passing a standing vehicle or a
8      vehicle proceedingin the same direction. When a person operating a bicycle upon a bikewayat a speed
9      less than the normal speed of traffic, such person may move out of the lane under anyofthe fonowing
10       circumstances:
11             a.   Whenever overtaking ot passing anotha hicydc, vehicle or pedestrian within the lane or about
12                    to enter the lane if such overtalchg or passing cannot b€ done safely within the lane;
13             b.   When pxpadng for a t`im ac an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
14              c.    When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris of hazardous conditions.
15      SEorloN 14. Yielding nghtrof-Way From Bieycle paths to sidewalks. -Every person riding
16       a bicycle on a bikewaythatis aboutto enter or cross a roadway sham vicld the right-of-way to all traffic
17       on such roadway.
18      SECHON 15. Motorvchide8 In Bikeways. -Vlienever a hikewayhas been estabhished on a road,
19       anyperson opefating a motorvehicle on such road sham not drive in the bikeway except to park when
20      parking is permitted, to enter o[ leave the road ot prepare for a turn.
21      SECTION 16. Exerdse of Due care. -Every cyclist shall exerdse due care to avoid comding with
22       any pedestrian, or any person operating a bicycle or other dcvicc propcllcd by human or animal power,
23      upon any road, and shall give waningby sounding the horn when necessary and shall cxcrdse proper
24      prccantions upon observing any child or any incapacitated person upon a road.
25      SEcrl0N 17. RIeycle Ime Nctwock to link catie8 and Muldpafides. The Departments of
26      Transportation,  Pubtic  Works  and  rmghways,  intedor  and  Local  Govemmenq  Metro  Mania
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1       Dc`'clopment Authority and the local govcmment units shall plan and construct an interconnccting
2       bicycle  lane  network  to  link  cjtics  and  muhicipalitjes  and  pursue  similar  approaches  towards  a
3       sustaimble and low carbon einssion trmsport system.
4      SECTION 18. Pcnalde§. -
5              a.    Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall bc subjec"o the penalty of a
6                    fine of not less than Five Thousand pesos p5,000.00) but not rnorc than Ten Thousand pesas
7                     P10'000.00).
8             b.   Any pubHc wods official who approves the construcdon of roads or highways without the
9                     required bike lanes in their design shall bc subject to the penalty ofa fine of not less than Ten
10                    Thousand pesos quHP 10,000) but not more than Thirty' Thousand pesos ffHP 30,000,) the
11                    penalty of suspension, or both.
12              c.    Any person vichthg the prohibition on the use of bike lanes by motor vehicles sham be subject
13                     to the penalty ofa froe ofnotless than Five Thousandpesos  qlHP 5,000) for the l6t offense;
14                    Ten Thousand pesos   @HP  10,000)  for the 2nd offense;  Fifteen Thousand pesos  ¢HP
15                      15,000)  and the suapensjon o±-drivef's Hcensc  for a period of thrcc  (3)  mt.nths  for [hc 3td
16                    Offense; and Twenty Thousand pesos PHP 20,000) and the revocation of driver's Hcensc for
17                    the 4th offense.
18                    If such  violation  causes  damage  or  injury  to  persons  or  property  then  the  appropriate
19                    provisions of the civfl code and the Revised penal code shall take efifect.
20      SECTION 19. Observance of the cades8 Day. -To promote chc use of bicycles. the couotry shall
21      participate in the annual celcbradoa of world car-Free Day every second sunday of september and
22       observe the Natiorml car-Free Day every second sunday of April.
23      SECTION  20.  Nationwide  Purmc  Information  Campaign.  - The  DOTr  and  its  atrachcd
24       agencies, in coordinndon with the phifippine Information Agency @IA), Department of Educadon
25       PcpEd),  Commission  on  Hisher  Education  (CrlED),  Department  of  the  Interior  and  I.ocal
26      Govemmcnt @ILG), Dcparrmcnt ofHcalth @OH). Philippine National police GNP), Mctropohitan
27      nfaniha Development Authorit}T  QnmA)  and private ngencie§  and organizations, Shall undertake
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1       nationwide information, education, and communication campaign for a pedod of six (6) months upon
2       the promu|grtion of the rules and regihations implementing the provisions of this Act.
3      SECTION  Z1.  External  Financing.  - The  DOTr,  jn  coordination  with  the  Department  of
4      Environment and Natural Resources pENR}, shall explore the possibifity. of accessing a range of
5       global envicorrment funds to assist in the finding of sustainable public transport systems and less
6      pouutng enc[gy supphes.
7      SECTION  22.  Separabifity  Clause.  -  If  any  provision  or  part  hcrcof,  is  held  invalid  ot
8      unconstitutional, the remainder of the haw or the provision not otherwise affected sham remain valid
9       andsubsisdng.
10      SEenoN 23. Repealing qau§e. -Any haw, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter
11      ofinstnlction, administrative order, mle or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision
12      ofdis Act is hcrcby xpealcd, modified, or amended accordingly.
13      SECThoN 24. Effecdvity nanse. -This Act chat take cffcct flfeen (15) days after its pubhication
14      in at Jcast tco (2) n€wapapcrs of general circulation.
15      Approved.
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