By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MARIKINA CITY — The Marikina City local government unit (LGU) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday (Aug. 29) officially opened an end-of-trip cycling facility in the city.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, Assistant Secretary James Andres Melad, Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, First District Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro led the launching ceremony and the unveiling of the marker of the new facility at the Marikina Central Parking Area.
Bautista said that the end-of-trip cycling facility features a total of 35 bicycle racks that could accommodate 70 bicycles. It also has fully-equipped comfort rooms and a bicycle repair and maintenance station.
“This will serve for the cycling employees of the City of Marikina and the residents of Marikina who have transaction in the City Hall. No need to bring a car. Not anymore, just use bike only. They will leave the bicycle here in the end-of-trip facility,” Bautista said.
Mayor Teodoro underscored the importance of using bicycles as a mode of transport in a bid to reduce carbon emission, and as a way of embracing an active lifestyle.
“This is part of our transport modality system. They can use a bicycle, active transport system, meaning no carbon emission, no carbon footprint, only pedal is being used not machine,” he said.
“Good not only for health, but also for our environment to be protected,” he added.
The mayor said that the end-of-trip bicycle facility will be beneficial to city government employees who use bicycles as their mode of transport to and from their workplaces.
“This can be used by the regular bicycle users in going from work from their home. This is for our City Hall employees who are using bicycles everyday,” the mayor said.
“We will notice, this is located in our Central Parking Area where they will go to work in a farther place. They can park their bicycles in this place.”
“They can change clothes here and ride in our public transport. The transport terminal of our jeepney is here with tricycles to go their workplaces. This is its importance.”
The Marikina LGU and the DOTr also broke ground on an eight-kilometer bike lane that would connect to the city’s existing bike lanes.
“This is an eight-kilometer bike lane to be connected there in the existing bike lane of Marikina,” Bautista said.
“They already have bike lanes a long time ago. We passed by their bike lanes which are very long. But we thought of expanding it and with the help of Mayor Marcy, we were allowed to expand the bike lane here in Marikina at the same time we will have the so-called end-of-trip facilities,” he added.
According to Mayor Teodoro, Marikina already has designated bicycle lanes around the city which were established in 1995.
“With this program, we are expanding to other places, we are linking the bike lane to be connected,” the mayor said.
