Marikina lights bike lanes to boost mobility

The Marikina City government illuminated key bike lane corridors with 92 LED lamps as part of its continuing drive to strengthen active mobility in the city.

Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro, together with Marikina First District Rep. Marcy Teodoro, led the ceremonial lighting of the newly installed bike lane lamps on Friday night.

Organized by the Marikina Bikeways Office, the event gathered local biker groups and cycling enthusiasts who traversed the newly lit bike lanes stretching from Champagnat Street in Barangay Marikina Heights to Goodrich Village Subdivision in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

According to Mayor Teodoro, the project focuses on lighting bike lanes near creeks and beneath tunnels to provide safer passage for cyclists during nighttime rides.

“This is more than beautification of our bikeways. I always say this. This is not merely decorative. What we want is for our bike lanes to be properly used and safe,” she said.

“A total of 2.6 kilometers of bike lane stretch has been illuminated. There are still a total of 8 kilometers that we will improve, but according to our Bikeways Office, there are already more or less 70 kilometers of existing bike lanes across Marikina, and we want to further expand them,” she added.

The local chief executive emphasized that developing an integrated mobility ecosystem through expanding and maintaining the city’s bike lanes benefits not only bikers but also joggers and pedestrians.

“Bike lanes are something intentional. They should be planned. They should be funded. They should interconnect our barangays and streets, and they should be sustainable,” Mayor Teodoro said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Teodoro said the refurbishment of bike lanes forms part of the local government unit’s broader citywide drive to strengthen active mobility infrastructure, citing the end-of-trip facility near City Hall and the continuing Car-Free Sundays program.

He also underscored the importance of preserving green spaces and fostering a strong sense of community among residents.

“This is what we often forget in governance, but here in Marikina, development includes playgrounds, parks and open spaces. We want to develop a sense of community among people,” he said.

With the ongoing refurbishment of its bike lanes, the city government hopes to encourage more residents to take up cycling for transport or leisure and is inviting cyclists from across Metro Manila to use these spaces.