New DOTr Secretary not keen on closing more roads for cyclists

Some roads within Metro Manila are closed to all types of motor vehicles, especially on Sundays to promote cycling and other active lifestyle activities. Aside from that, most if not all major roads within the metro have designated bicycle lanes for cyclists, e-bikes, and other personal mobility devices (PMDs).

Now, with a new Secretary at the helm, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) says that it is not keen on closing more roads in the metro for cyclists, as it is not a practical solution to the traffic congestion problem.

“Our problem with Metro Manila is that it is so congested already. If this were a city like [New] Clark [City], it’s easy. It’s easy to say and close this [road], close that [road] since we have plenty of space. In Metro Manila, there are no spaces left,” said new Transportation Secretary, Vince Dizon.

“The government’s job, if it’s looking for a solution to a problem, is to make people’s lives better, not worse. The problem is, sometimes we don't think about it carefully. We think it's a good solution. But the net effect is that we just made the lives of motorists and the general public more difficult,” added Dizon.

So, is closing more roads a practical solution to traffic? The new DOTr Secretary says that everything needs balance and closing roads is not practical.

“I’m a biker. That’s my passion. I’ve been cycling for so many years. I would love to have roads in Metro Manila closed just for bikes. But, is it the practical solution? I don’t know. Maybe not. So, we’ll just have to find ways to balance everything.”