Republic of the Philippines

PHILIPPINE MODEL CONGRESS

Metro Manila

EIGHTH CONGRESS
Regular Session

PMC Bill No. ______

Introduced by OMERAH M. BARANGAI

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR BIKE LANES ON CITIES AND PROVIDING FREE PARKING
SPACES FOR BICYCLES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Avid cyclists know that riding a bike helps keep you physically fit, reduces stress and
provides a variety of cognitive benefits. But for cyclists who must ride in traffic, biking also can
be a dangerous way to maintain health. One answer is dedicated bike lanes, which establish a
protective boundary between cyclists and vehicle traffic. Physical barriers that set off bike lanes
can include plastic posts, trees and other plants, and even parked cars. However they’re
delineated, bike lanes help keep cyclists safe. One study found that on streets with protected bike
lanes, bike riders suffered almost 90 percent fewer injuries.
Lanes dedicated to bike traffic have a high cost-benefit ratio, research has found. In
addition, the lanes provide multiple benefits, including significantly fewer injuries to cyclists,
more people riding bikes because they feel safer, which helps control obesity and promotes
physical fitness in the local population, improved safety for vehicles making right turns. Bike
lanes add to the turning radius at driveways and intersections, reducing the risk of rear-end
crashes. It also results in higher probability that drivers can avoid utility poles and other fixed
obstacles due to the greater area cleared of trees and other barriers to visibility. More-confident
drivers will be assured due to the additional open space created by paved shoulders and
dedicated bike lanes. The additional space improves drivers’ ability to navigate and make quick
stops.
Safe bike lanes also tend to lower the number of vehicles on the roads, which lowers
emissions and pollution levels. Vehicles produce in excess of 30 percent of the carbon dioxide
and 80 percent of carbon monoxide emissions every year. Bike lanes improve the environment
and the local economy, and they provide a safer means of travel for cyclists, motorists and
pedestrians alike.

Therefore, the passage of this bill is urgently sought.

OMERAH M. BARANGAI
 Republic of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE MODEL CONGRESS
Metro Manila

EIGHTH CONGRESS
Regular Session

PMC Bill No. ______

Introduced by OMERAH M. BARANGAI

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR BIKE LANES ON CITIES AND PROVIDING FREE PARKING
SPACES FOR BICYCLES

Be it enacted by the Philippine Model Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Bicycle Lanes Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared as the policy of the State pursuant to
the 1987 Constitution to:
a. Provide an effective and safe bicycle lane for the betterment of the general
public
b. Promote social justice in all phases of national development
c. Provide an adequate alternative method of transportation for those who cannot
afford vehicles
d. Give highest priority to the enactment of measures that enhance the right of all
the people to human dignity

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:

(a) Cyclists refers to a person who rides a bicycle;

(b) Delineated refers to indicate the exact position of a border or boundary;
(c) Obesity refers to the condition of being grossly fat or overweight.

SEC. 4. Role of DPWH – In every local branch of DPWH, they shall construct, build, secure
and maintain a designated bike lane in every national highway, and in places where bike lanes
are permitted to be built as may be provided for by law. They shall also make sure that every
establishment has a designated parking space where bicycles could be parked and be safe to be
left at said places. Said bicycle parking spaces should be adequately big enough for every cyclist
and shall be able to protect the bicycles in every form of harm or danger to the bicycle like rain.

SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts. – Every person or establishment shall be prohibited from charging
fees for using the bicycle parking spaces nor shall they be allowed to hinder the use and passage
of the bicycle lanes.
 SEC. 6. Penalties. – Any persons or educational institutions, whether private or public, liable
under this Act shall be penalized by imprisonment of not less than thirty (30) days and not more
than six (6) months and/or a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000) and not more
than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000), taking into consideration the circumstances
and gravity of the offense.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is
hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within 90 days from the effectivity of this
Act, the DPWH shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts of provisions not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation