The Quezon City government has apprehended 616 motorists or drivers of automobiles who have overtaken and/or were illegaly parked in road lanes intended for bicycles in the first two months of the year.
According to the Bike Lane Apprehension Report submitted to the Office of Mayor Joy Belmonte, 524 violators were caught and fined from January 1 to 31 while 92 violators were apprehended from February 1 to 6.
“Gusto nating igiit sa publiko na ang bike lanes ay para sa mga bike lang. Kung kayo ay naka-motor o gumagamit ng sasakyan, hindi kayo pwede sa loob ng bike lane,” said Belmonte.
“Bike lanes are designed to put the safety of cyclists first. If you run over or obstruct their lane then that puts them in danger and defeats the very purpose of our bike lane,” she added.
Department of Public Order and Safety Chief Elmo San Diego said the rigorous apprehension is a joint enforcement effort of the DPOS-Green Transport Office (GTO) and the Task Force for Traffic and Transport Management (TFTTM).
“We have to make sure that the safety of all road users, including bicycle riders, are observed at all times,” said San Diego.
Both the DPOS and TFTTM implement the provisions of SP 2988 or the QC Safe Cycling and Active Transport Ordinance which was meant to prioritize traveling with the use of bicycles especially amid the pandemic, and SP 1444 or the QC Traffic Management Code.
SP 2988 imposes penalties for motorists using or obstructing cycling lanes in Quezon City. The said fines are as follows: P1,000, P3,000 and P5,000 for the first, second and third offense, respectively
Use of for hire pedicabs in said cycling lanes is also prohibited with a fine of P300 or a day of community service for first offense, and P300 or a day of community service and attendance to a half-day seminar on safe cycling for second and succeeding offenses.
“Magsilbi sana itong babala sa ibang motorista. Huwag na po kayong pumasok sa bike lane at malaki ang tyansa na mahuli kayo ng ating enforcers,” said TFTTM head Dexter Cardenas.
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