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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No.____ 
Introduced by 
ANAKALUSUGAN REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL T. DEFENSOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Covid-19 pandemic, already two years running, made cycling a necessary 
transportation option, especially for persons authorized outside of residence like our medical 
frontliners, during the first Enhanced Community Quarantine. It is also one of the “safer” 
fitness regimens now that most gym facilities are closed. The present fuel price spike makes it 
also a practical mode of transportation.  Cycling produce no air or noise pollution; they do not 
consume fossil fuels; there is a marked reduction in traffic congestion; easier parking; greater 
maneuverability; it provides the cyclist with exercise and relieves stress; it is cheaper and there 
is negligible damage to roads. Thus, the possible benefits of the establishment of a nationwide 
bicycle program would be vast. 
To support such a program, the proper infrastructure must be created. This bill seeks to 
establish bike-friendly communities throughout the Philippines. Cities are thought to be 
bicycle-friendly when they: (1) create a safe and easy environment for cycling; (2) educate the 
community on bicycle safety and laws; (3) enforce rules and regulations surrounding traffic 
and marked lanes.  
This bill also seeks to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop 
a comprehensive plan and program to ensure the safety not only of cyclists, but all other 
commuters. 
This bill is an updated version of the one filed in the Senate by the late Senator Miriam 
Defensor Santiago during the 16th Congress. 
MICHAEL “MIKE” T. DEFENSOR 
Anakalusugan Party-List Representative 
October 21, 2021
10:09 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No.____ 
Introduced by 
ANAKALUSUGAN REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL T. DEFENSOR 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING BIKE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section. 1. Short Title. –  This Act shall be known as the “Bike-Friendly Communities 
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Act.” 
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SECTION 2. Definitions. – For purpose of this Act, the term – 
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A. “Bike” or “Bicycle” means a non-motorized vehicle consisting of a light
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frame mounted on two wire-spoked wheels one behind the other and having a seat, handlebars 
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for steering, brakes, and two pedals; 
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B. “Cyclist” means a person who rides a bicycle;
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C. “DOT” means the Department of Transportation; and
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D. “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
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SECTION 3. Establishing Bike-Friendly Communities through a National Bike 
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Program. – The Secretary shall establish a bike program under the Department of 
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Transportation to promote safe biking in all cities and municipalities. The program shall 
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include the construction and maintenance of bicycle lanes, parking, and support facilities. The 
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Secretary shall also create an educational and awareness program on traffic safety. The 
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Secretary may enlist the assistance of other departments or government agencies to carry out 
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this section. 
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SECTION 4. Bicycle Lanes. – There shall be designated bicycle lanes in all primary 
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and secondary roads that shall serve as exclusive access for bicycle riders. Motor vehicles are 
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prohibited from being driven or parked on any bicycle lane. 
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The bicycle lanes shall be separated by a physical barrier and shall be clearly identified 
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with signs and/or pavement markings. In cases where the installation of a physical barrier is 
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not feasible, the lane for bicycles shall be identified through reflectorized yellow painted lines. 
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Bicycle lanes must never compromise the mobility and safety of pedestrians. 
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The bicycle lanes should traverse across all towns and cities and connect to all major 
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forms of transport, including airports and piers. 
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Cyclists shall be required to bike within the lanes, unless no bike lanes have been 
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designated on such roads yet. Cyclists must obey all traffic rules and regulations except those 
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which are not applicable to bicycles. 
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SECTION 5. Bicycle Parking. – All public places, government offices, schools, major 
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business establishments, including malls, banks, restaurants, hospitals, and the like, are hereby 
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required to provide bicycle racks for bicycle parking. 
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Bicycle parking should be secure, visible, accessible, and not in the way of pedestrians 
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or motor vehicles. 
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SECTION 6. Bicycle Infrastructure. – In addition to the bicycle lanes and bicycle 
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parking areas, support facilities shall be established to ensure that cyclists and their bicycles 
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can travel safety and to lessen the possibility of collisions with pedestrians. These facilities 
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include, but are not limited, to the following: 
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A. Sidewalk improvements; 
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B. Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements; 
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C. Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements; 
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D. Traffic signage pertaining to bicycles; 
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E. Off-street pedestrian and bicycle facilities; and  
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F. Traffic diversion improvements. 
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SECTION 7. Educational Program. – The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
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Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and local governments, shall 
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establish an educational program to increase awareness on bike safety and road sharing. The 
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program shall be designed for traffic enforces, motorists, cyclists, and the commuting public. 
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The program shall include: 
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A. Traffic education and enforcement; 
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B. Motorist Awareness and Road-Sharing; and  
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C. Bicycle and pedestrian safety. 
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SECTION 8. Bike to Work. – The DOT shall establish a program that gives incentives 
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to private and government offices that encourage their employees to ride their bicycles to work 
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by providing for bicycle facilities within their establishments, lockers, and showers. 
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SECTION 9. Penalties. – A. Any person or establishment who violates the provisions 
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of this Act shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos (P10,000.00). When 
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the offender is a corporation, the officers responsible for the violation shall be meted said 
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penalties. 
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B. Any public works official who fails or refuses to mark the existing main roads and 
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highways or approve the construction of main roads or highways without the required bicycle 
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lanes in their designs shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos 
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(P10,000.00) nor more than thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) or suspension, or both, if found 
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guilty in an appropriate administrative investigation. 
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SECTION 10. Grants. – In carrying out the provisions of this Act, the Secretary may 
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make grants to local government units, and non-governmental organizations that the Secretary 
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determines are suitably equipped and organized to carry out the objectives and requirements of 
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this Act. A local government unit that receives a grant under this section may sub-allocate grant 
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funds to a nonprofit organization to carry out the program. 
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SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within thirty (30) days after this 
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Act takes effect, a committee shall be created to formulate the implementing rules and 
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regulations of this Act. The committee shall be composed of the following:  
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A. The Secretary of Transportation and Communication, or an authorized 
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representative, who shall serve as chair of the committee; 
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B. A representative from the Department of Public Works and Highways; 
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C. A representative from the Department of Environment and Natural 
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Resources; 
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D. A professor from the University of the Philippines School of Urban and 
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Regional Planning; 
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E. Two (2) representatives from various bicycle organizations; and  
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F. A representative from the MMDA. 
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Within six (6) months after this Act takes effect, the Secretary of Transportation and 
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Communication shall promulgate and disseminate the implementing rules and regulations. 
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SECTION 12. Appropriation. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
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may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Bike Program shall be 
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included in the annual appropriation of the DOTC. 
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SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
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with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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