Davao City councilor Diosdado Mahipus contradicted an earlier statement by traffic czar Dionisio Abude that allocating bicycle lanes is not yet feasible insisting that the so-called Avila Law must be fully implemented.
The Avila Law, authored by the late councilor Leonardo “Happy LA” Avila II and passed in 2010, gives exclusive rights to two wheel motorist, such as motorcycle and bicycles in designated bicycle lane. The ordinance penalizes any four-wheel vehicles, including trucks encroaching on these lanes.
Mahipus, on Tuesday, said that the ordinance written by Avila in 2010 was not properly implemented due to the lack of implementating rules and regulation (IRR). The veteran legislator contradicted City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) head Abude’s statement that it is not yet possible to have a bike lane in the city.
Mahipus said that the Avila ordinance aims to advocate the usage of bicycles as a transport alternative to decongest the cars in the city. “We already have an existing bike lane. We just have to implement it properly.
“Considering with the advent of the road expansions we have in the city,” Mahipus said.
The councilor, a bicycle enthusiast himself, said that he hopes that the city will have a bike lane exclusive for two wheel vehicles, such as bicycle and motorcycles. He also said that the ordinance was not able to meet its cause due to the hesitation of some bike users in crossing along the streets as they observed that they are not given passage priority.
Abude, in a previous interview, said that the capacity of the city’s road is not yet capable of having bike lanes, especially in the downtown area. However, Mahipus said that, some areas of the city have already extended pavements, including in the Ma-a Diversion road. He said that the city can utilize for a start.
“We have to utilize the fully extended pavements for the benefit of the motorist, since bike and motor riders are also motorist,” Mahipus said.
