EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. P>88
tOU.t.- of !l;c si)i r ' i n i ) '
•19 
JUL 17 
P5 :56
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECE'V u  b 1!.
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BICYCLES AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODE OF 
TRANSPORTATION, ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
FACILITIES, 
APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
Cycling or biking is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or sport. The 
possible benefits of the establishment of a nationwide bicycle program would be 
vast. Cycling has the following advantages compared to the use of motor vehicles:
(a) Bicycles do not contribute to air or noise pollution;
(b) Bicycles do not consume fossil fuels;
(c) The use of bicycles leads to a marked reduction in traffic 
congestion, easier parking, and greater maneuverability; and
(d) It provides the cyclist with exercise and relieves stress; it is 
cheaper and there is negligible damage to roads.
To support such a program, the proper infrastructure must be established. 
Without it, biking on Philippine roads, which are dominated by motor vehicles, 
remains dangerous to cyclists. Furthermore, road sharing arrangements are 
necessary, as less than 2% of Filipinos own cars, yet all roads are dedicated to 
private vehicles.1 The tragic death of Mr. Mark Vicent Garalde is only one of many 
deaths of bicyclists in the roads of Metro Manila. Around 196 bicyclists have died in 
the roads of Manila in the past ten years, with 26 accounted for in 2015 alone.2
This bill seeks to establish bike-friendly environments throughout the 
Philippines. Bicycle friendly cities are those that are most accommodating to cyclists. 
Thoroughfares are considered to be bicycle friendly when they: (a) create a safe and
1 Nicholls, AC. "Road-sharing advocates push for bike and walk-friendly roads" CNN Philippines. Retrieved 
from: fr http://cnnphilippines.eom/news/2016/02/07/road-sharing-scheme-advocates-metro-manila-traffic- 
woes-mmda.htmhttp://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/02/07/road-sharing-scheme-advocates-metro-manila- 
traffic-woes-mmda.html
2 Legaspi, A. "Truck runs over cyclist on Marikina bike lane" 6MA News (January 06, 2016). Retrieved from 
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/storv/550238/news/metro/truck-runs-over-cvclist-on-marikina-bike-lane
1


easy environment for cycling; (b) educate the community on bicycle safety and laws; 
and (c) enforce rules and regulations surrounding traffic and marked lanes.
Bike-friendly environments can only be established through smart engineering 
and proper planning. Some examples of cities around the world that have 
successfully created bike-friendly communities are Amsterdam, Barcelona, Basel, 
Berlin, Beijing, Strasbourg, and several states in the U.S. such as New York, 
California, and Oregon. Portland, Oregon has been voted the most bike-friendly city 
because of the city's plans for a committed bike-focused infrastructure.
Establishing a nation-wide bicycle program would empower citizens by 
providing them with a concrete, cheap and accessible alternative means of 
commuting from one city to another. Integrating bicycles into our national transport 
system and establishing bike-friendly environments are the first steps towards a 
public transportation network which exhibits the principle of "inclusive mobility" 
wherein those who have less in wheels, must have more in roads;
Finally, this bill also seeks to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop 
a comprehensive plan and program to ensure the safety of cyclists and all other 
commuters.
Immediate approval of this measure is eagerly sought.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
5 8 A
iS)fi I.- at Hi, ;!•>. 'I ' liu p
‘19 
.nil 17 PS 56
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
R E C ti'/, 0 G'*'
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BICYCLES AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODE OF 
TRANSPORTATION, ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
FACILITIES, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Bicycle Friendly
2 
Communities Act o f 2019."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to promote
4 
environmentally sound and affordable means of transportation for its citizens that
5 
shall sen/e as an alternative to vehicles which consume fuel. It is also the policy of
6 
the State to protect the welfare and safety of the commuting public and all road
7 
users.
8 
Towards this end, the State shall promote biking as a means of transport by
9 
establishing a comprehensive network of bike lanes and bike facilities, and a road
10 
safety program. The State shall ensure that the needs and safety of all road users,
11 
particularly the pedestrians and cyclists, are fully integrated into the planning,
12 
design, operation, and maintenance of the country's transportation system.
13 
Sec. 3. Definition o f terms. -  For purposes of this Act:
14 
(a) Bike or Bicycle - means a non-motorized vehicle consisting of a light frame
15 
mounted on two wire-spoked wheels, one behind the other, and having a
16 
seat, handlebars for steering, brakes, and two pedals;
17 
(b) Cyclist - means a person who rides a bicycle;


1 
(c) Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and
2 
Communication.
3 
Sec. 4. Establishing a National Bicycle Friendly Communities Program. -  There
4 
is hereby established a national bicycle friendly communities program C'the
5 
Program") under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) which shall promote safe
6 
biking in all towns and cities. The program shall include the construction and
7 
maintenance of bicycle lanes, parking, and support facilities. The Secretary of the
8 
DOTr shall also formulate an educational and awareness program on traffic safety.
9 
The Secretary may enlist the assistance of other departments or government
10 
agencies to carry out this section.
11 
Sec. 5. Bicycle Lanes. -  There shall be designated bicycle lanes in all primary
12 
and secondary roads that shall serve as exclusive lanes for bicycle riders. Motor
13 
vehicles are prohibited from being driven or parked on said bicycle lane.
14 
The bicycle lanes shall be separated by a physical barrier and shall be clearly
15 
identified with signs and/or pavement markings. In cases where the installation of a
16 
physical barrier is not feasible, the lane for bicycles shall be identified through
17 
reflectorized orange painted lines. Bicycle lanes must never compromise the mobility
18 
and safety of pedestrians. The bicycle lanes should traverse across all towns and
19 
cities and connect to all major forms of transport, including airports and piers.
20 
Cyclists shall be required to bike within said lanes, unless no bike lanes have been
21 
designated on such roads yet.
22 
Sec. 6. Bicycle Parking. -  All public places, government offices, schools, major
23 
business establishments, including malls, banks, restaurants, hospitals, and the like,
24 
are hereby required to provide bicycle racks for bicycle parking. Bicycle parking
25 
should be secure, visible, accessible, and not in the way of pedestrians or motor
26 
vehicles
27 
Sec. 7. Bicycle Infrastructure. -  In addition to the bicycle lanes and bicycle
28 
parking areas, support facilities shall be established to ensure that cyclists and their
29 
bicycles can travel safely and to lessen the possibility of collisions with pedestrians.
30 
These facilities include, but are not limited, to the following:
31 
(a) Sidewalk improvements;
32 
(b) Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements;


1 
(c) Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements;
2 
(d) Traffic signage pertaining to bicycles;
3 
(e) Off-street pedestrian and bicycle facilities; and
4 
(f) Traffic diversion improvements.
5 
Sec. 8. Educational Program. -  The Secretary, in cooperation with the
6 
Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
7 
and local governments, shall establish an educational program to increase
8 
awareness on bike safety and road sharing. The program shall be designed for traffic
9 
enforcers, motorists, cyclists, and the commuting public. The program shall include;
10 
(a) Traffic education and enforcement;
11 
(b) Motorist Awareness and Road-Sharing; and
12 
(c) Bicycle and pedestrian safety.
13 
Sec. 9. Carless Day. -  To promote the use of bicycles, the country shall
14 
participation in the annual celebration of World Car-Free Day. Pursuant thereof, the
15 
second Sunday of September is hereby designated as Carless Day. The Secretary is
16 
hereby mandated to determine the primary and secondary roads which shall be
17 
earless during this annual celebration.
18 
Sec. 10. Bike to Work. -  The DOTC shall establish a program that gives
19 
incentives to private and government offices that encourage their employees to ride
20 
their bicycles to work by providing for bicycle facilities within their establishments,
21 
lockers, and showers.
22 
Sec. 11. Penaities. -
23 
(a) Any person or establishment who violates the provisions of this Act shall
24 
be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos (Php 1,000.00).
25 
When the offender is a corporation, the officers responsible for the
26 
violation shall be meted said penalties.
27 
(b) Any public works official who fails or refuses to mark the existing main
28 
roads and highways or approve the construction of main roads or
29 
highways without the required bicycle lanes in their designs shall 
be
30 
punished by a fine of not less than ten thousand (Phpl0,000.00) pesos
31 
nor more than thirty thousand (Php30,000.00) pesos or suspension, or
32 
both, if found guilty in an appropriate administrative investigation.


1 
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within thirty (30) days after
2 
this Act takes effect, a committee composed of the following members shall be
3 
created to formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act:
4 
(a) The Secretary of Transportation and Communication, or an authorized
5 
representative, who shall serve as chair of the committee;
6 
(b) A representative from the Department of Public Works and Highways;
7 
(c) A representative from the Department of Environment and Natural
8 
Resources;
9 
(d) A representative from the Metro Manila Development Authority;
10 
(e) A professor from the University of the Philippines School of Urban and
11 
Regional Planning;
12 
(f) Two (2) representatives from various bicycle organizations; and
13 
Within six (6) months after this Act takes effect, the Secretary of
14 
Transportation 
and 
Communication 
shall 
promulgate 
and 
disseminate 
the
15 
implementing rules and regulations.
16 
Sec. 13. Appropriations. -  To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
17 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
18 
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of
19 
the Bike Program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the DOTC.
20 
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
21 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
22 
shall remain valid and subsisting.
23 
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
24 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
25 
to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or
26 
amended accordingly.
27 
Sec. 17. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
28 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,