Quezon City has been recognized as the most bike-friendly city in the Philippines, a significant achievement highlighted in the 2023 Mobility Awards. This is the first time Quezon City has been nominated for this award, marking a milestone in its commitment to sustainable transportation.
General Elmo San Diego, Head of the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety, expressed his delight in the city’s achievement. He emphasized the city’s focus on redefining traffic, not just as moving vehicles but as the movement of people, including cyclists. With over 16,000 cyclists using Quezon City’s 200 kilometers of bike lanes daily, the city’s initiatives are clearly resonating with its residents. San Diego outlined future plans to improve bike lane exclusivity and safety, including installing permanent concrete dividers and enhancing facilities for bikers, such as shower areas and comfort rooms.
Highlighting the city’s size, San Diego remarked that four Manilas could fit into Quezon City, underscoring the significance of their focus on improving bike lanes. The Mobility Awards event, held at Novotel in Cubao, saw Quezon City leading, followed by Iloilo with a gold rating and Baguio City with a silver rating in terms of bike-friendliness.
The Mobility Awards, organized by various groups including the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), MNL Moves, Climate Reality Project-Philippines, 350.Org Pilipinas, and Pinay Bike Commuter, aim to recognize efforts in promoting bicycling as a primary mode of transport. The awards, which started in 2020 and took a hiatus in 2022, received around 200 unique nominations in various categories, including cities, commercial establishments, and workplaces.
Arielle Celine Tabinga, the National Coordinator for the Mobility Awards, noted the significant progress in bicycle infrastructure and programs, particularly evident this year. The awards were driven by a goal to address the needs of the majority of Filipino households in Metro Manila who do not own private cars. This initiative aligns with data from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which shows that over 80% of road spaces are utilized by private cars, even though only 12% of Filipino households own a car.
A recent SWS survey revealed a growing trend in cycling, with the number of households using bicycles for activities increasing to 36%, equivalent to about 10 million households, up from 29% in April 2022 and 24% in May 2021. This rise in cycling popularity underscores the importance of initiatives like the Mobility Awards in promoting sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions.