Bikers now a political force - one out five households own bikers

Wheels of Happiness

Manila Times - many more Filipinos own bikes

A former senator did not get reelected because he offended several million MC riders who were offended by law he passed regarding additional plates for MC.

But now, the bikers who were given bike lanes and being criticized for such a privilege have been increasing in number   1 out of five households own bikes as per survey of SWS:  The bikers are more numerous than car owners;   there are more bikers than there are MC owners in MM.  

Motor vehicle owners MC and autos should be aware of this number as they continue to abuse bike riders

  This is the result of the survey:

The survey found that 29 percent of Filipino households (an estimated 7.3 million) were using bicycles — 23 percent owned the bicycles while 6 percent used borrowed bicycles. Bicycles were being used for essential (21 percent) and recreational purposes (18 percent). Nationwide, households that owned bicycles outnumbered the 6 percent of those with cars by a ratio of 4:1.

The popularity of bicycles was even more pronounced in the National Capital Region (NCR), where 32 percent of households owned bicycles compared to the 6 percent that owned cars — a ratio of 5:1. It is noteworthy that bicycles are the most commonly owned vehicle in the NCR (motorcycles, the second most popular vehicle in the region, are owned by 25 percent of households).

Nilait ang Rizal sa climbing destination

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

6.29.2021

Nagkuwento si Insang Smith (Rommel Unidad) tungkol sa isang guest rider na taga Maynila na tila may hangin sa ulo at sinabing walang sinabi ang Rizal tungkol sa matataas na biking destination.   (Hindi pa marahil niya nakikita at nararanasan)  Siya daw ay nag Laguna loop na at basic.  Natural ang salunga lang ay Bugarin at Kalayaan (suwabe pa)

Kaya sinubukan nila.  Sa Bugarin pa lang late na nang 60 minutes at panay pahinga.   

Pagdating sa softdrink hills, pangalawa pa lang latag na ayaw. na.   

Kaya dapat humble tayo at huwag magyabang at manlait tungkol sa lakas natin

Trending bike lanes - more work has to be done

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.28.2021

Because of the huge number of bikers, bike lanes were hurriedly legislated on, budgets set aside and massive building started.  However as I tried the bike lanes this week end in going to KM 0.

     1.   A bike lane in a minor road in a MM city (but fabulous bike lane in CBD) has bike lanes that

           is rutted, dotted with depressed manhole covers, and I would rate this to be dangerous.  I had to

           swerve and avoid this

    2.  Bike lane in a road in a premier city is non existent in market place -  having been occupied 

         by parking and market stalls.

    3.  In Manila, there is no bike lane at Roxas blvd. but there are on both wings in side streets, service

         road, and sidewalk along Roxas blvd.

This would caution fellow bikers:  The bike lane does not guarantee safety and exclusive use of the lane:

    1.   MC and other MV continue to use the bike lane for their travel;

    2.  MV suddenly stop at bike lanes park, and open their doors.

    3.  There are counterflows by fellow bikers at bike lane and there could be head on collision

A lot more work has to be done in terms of 1.  infrastructure,   2.  education of bikers, other users

3.  enforcement.

We are still experiencing birthing pains in bike lanes.  

Bike to work scheme update

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 5, 2018

Bike to Work Pilipinas at FB

From Spin Ph: Is biking the answer to MM traffic problem

There is a renewed interest in bike to work:  MC or bikes:   MTB and  RB.  The traffic gridlock which could be very frustrating, time and fuel wasted, late to work and appointments, the frequent and unsolvable MRT breakdowns make us think of the  easiest and cheapest way to solve this problem:   bike to work.

Advantages:

1. Less fuel;
2.  Less pollution
3.  Instant solution:  no cap ex on the part of the govt;
4. Healthier lifestyle
5.  Less absenteeism at work, less tardiness
6.  O expense on fares.


I just talked to two delivery boys of a bed company in Bicutan who bike to work:   one is RB and other is MTB.  I gave for free (no raffle) one old helmet.  They bike no less than 60 km to work

Certain infrastructures though must be made to encourage more people to bike to work:

Inputs:        bike lanes,  parking for bikes at buildings, SG to guard the bikes, secured parking lots for
                  bikers, bus and  LRT MRT friendly to bikers, airlines  and ships friendly to bikers  (LRT and
                  MRT now allows folding bikes to be brought inside the cabin, thanks to efforts of TSP - Tiklop
                  Society of the  Philippines

Throughputs:   laws protecting bikers,  tpl MV for bikers   education for MV drivers to respect bikers; training for PUSO, traffic cops, MMDA about new bike laws

Outputs:      laws, posters, announcements

Environment:   biker friendly offices, employers, traffic enforcers, malls, local govt;   safety consciousness

Catalyst:      low interest, or interest free loans from bike shops,  financing company, SSS, employers

Human aid:    Legislators, Attys, lawyers lawmakers who are bikers, RB and MTB association, blog and
                      FB posts, emergency and rescue facilities in case of accident

Indeed bike to work has come of age, maybe 40% done:   kasi my bike lanes na, may bikers association, by force of necessity, factory and construction bike to work, the population of MC bikers is increasing by leaps and bounds (and Motortrade, Ropali etc are having it good)

These are tip for bike to work:   From top gear: tips on bike to work

Things to know about biking to work from Rappler

Some tips:

1. Be visible be agile
2. Avoid dark clothing
3   Adopt high cadence pedaling style to help further become visible
4.   Follow traffic rules (no beating of red lights keep right0
5.   Stay 4 to 5 ft away from gutter (in case you fall and to avoid broken glass)

The Cebu and Bohol earthquake should spur us to prepare in case earthquake of same magnitude hits MM

Real Cyclists
Getting higher and stronger

Social and political criticisms

Repost from Filosofo Tasyo site


                                  

                                        

 
 3/18 scenarios
Primer on Bohol Earthquake last October 15 2013

Is Metro Manila prepared for an earthquake for an intensity as what hit Bohol last Tuesday.  There has been various estimates but they all agree that casualties and damages especially to buildings will be great.  We all know that MM lies along a major fault (the Marikina fault and its extends all the way to Rizal and even Alabang)  It is difficult to understand why despite this knowledge building officials gave permits to high rise (approaching and beyond 50 stories)  I hope they have been designed to withstand earthquakes of 7 or more in magnitude.

As early as June 8, 2013 an article was written in Inquirer which says that 38,000 will be killed and 100,000 will be injured, roads will be impassable, there will be fires, and the MoA area will be a mass grave.  This was what MM Chair Francis Tolentino told PMA President Leo Olarte in a closed meeting as MMDA prepares for MM earthquake which goes through a 200 year cycle (it is due).  The preparation is called OMY (oplan metro yakal).  This is due to the proximity to West Valley fault which has a story of powerful quakes in the past

It will damage 13% of the 170,000 residential buildings and render more 1.2 million people homeless.  It can damage 20% of the govt hospitals, building and facilities.

 The earthquake will divide MM into four regions

 


Are we prepared;  are we ready.  As the Bible says, we do not know the time and hour of the day.



The Philstar article yesterday on the other hand, basing on the 2004 study made by JICA entitled MMEIR (Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction) said 50,000 will be killed.  It also said 40% of the residential buildings will be affected:  170,000 houses will collapse and 340,000 will be damaged. JICA painted 18 scenarios

Are you afraid?  Are you prepared?

                                

There is typhoon Gorio and signal no 2 is up in Rizal; can we bike tomorrow?

Real Cyclists

Rizal   PHL    |  June 29, 2013

I just watched the TV and learned that typhoon signal No 2 is up over MM and there would be  rain tomorrow due to Typhoon Gorio.  Will rains continue tomorrow?

Shall we just do with the stationary trainer?