Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-H34
MARIKINA CITY — In a bid to encourage the public to embrace an active lifestyle and reduce carbon emissions, the local government unit (LGU) of Marikina City and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) officially opened an end-of-trip cycling facility in the city on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
Transportation 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 (MCPA).
Bautista said 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.
“Ito ay mag-se-serve para sa mga nagbibisekleta na employees ng City of Marikina at ‘yung mga mamamayan ng Marikina na may transaksyon sa City Hall. Hindi na kailangan magdala ng kotse, magbibisekleta na lang. Iiwanan nila ‘yung bisekleta dito sa end-of-trip facility,” Bautista said.
(Translation: This will serve employees of the City of Marikina and citizens of the city who have transactions at the City Hall. They do not need to ride their car, just use bicycle. They can leqve their bicycle at the end-of-trip facility.)
Good for health and environment
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.
“Ito ay bahagi ng transport modality system natin. Pwedeng gumamit sila ng bisekleta, active transport system, ibig sabihin walang carbon emission, walang carbon footprint, pedal ang ginagamit, hindi makina,” he said.
(Translation: This is part of our transport modality system. They can ride bicycle, active transport system, meaning there is no carbon emission, zero carbon footprint, using pedal, not engine.)
“Mainam hindi lang para sa kalusugan, kundi para rin sa kalikasan natin para mapangalagaan,” he added.
(Translation: It is good not only for health, but also for our environment and take care of it.)
The mayor said 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.
“Magagamit ito ng mga regular na gumagamit ng bisekleta, pagpunta galing sa trabaho, galing sa kanilang tahanan. Ito ay para sa City Hall employees natin na gumagamit araw-araw ng bisekleta,” the mayor said.
(Translation: Those regularly ride bicycles can use it, going to and coming from work, from their home. This is for our City Hall employees who ride bicycle every day.)
“Mapapansin natin, ito ay located sa Central Parking Area natin na kung saan sila ay papasok sa trabaho sa mas malayong lugar, pwedeng ang kanilang mga bisekleta ay iparada sa lugar na ito.”
(Translation: We’ll notice, this is located in our Central Parking Area. Those coming from far away location and going to work, they can park their bicycles here.)
“Pwede silang magpalit dito ng damit at sumakay na sa public transport natin. Narito ang transport terminal ng ating jeepney, may mga tricycle para sa pagpunta nila sa pinagtratrabahuhan nila. Narito rin ang palengke natin. Ito ang kahalagahan niya.”
(Translation: They can chance clothes here and take our public transport. Our jeepney terminal is here, there are tricycles they can take going to their work. Our market is also here. That’s how important it is.
Expanded bike lanes
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, iko-connect doon sa (it will be connected to the) existing bike lane in Marikina,” Bautista said.
“Matagal na silang mayroong bike lanes. Nadaanan natin, napakahaba ng bike lanes nila. Pero naisip namin na dagdagan pa ito, and sa tulong ni Mayor Marcy ay pinayagan niya kami na i-expand ‘yung bike lane dito sa Marikina at the same time magkaroon tayo ng tinatawag na end-of-trip facilities,” he added.
(Translation: They have bike lanes for a long time. We passed it, it is very long. But we thought it should be extended and through the help of Mayor Marcy, he allowed us to expand the bike lane here in Marikina and at the same time we have what is called end-of-trip facilities.)
According to Mayor Teodoro, Marikina already has designated bicycle lanes around the city which was established in 1995.
“With this program, ine-expand natin sa iba pang lugar, dinudugtong natin ang bike lane para connected,” the mayor said. (With this program, we expanded it to our other areas so they are inter-connected. (♡)