Klima

Bikenomics: Assessing the Value of Cycling in the Philippines

Cycling has been on the rise in the Philippines, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. What Filipinos used to view as just a sport or a toy became a viable and essential means of transport for many, especially for healthcare workers and daily wage-earners who had no other safe and affordable means of transport during the lockdown.

The cycling boom in the country created opportunities for advocates, cities, businesses, policymakers, and national government agencies to build cycling infrastructure and approve cycling-friendly policies to ensure the safety of our ‘pandemic cyclists’.

Now that the economy is steadily going back to the ‘old normal’, the defense for creating cycling-friendly infrastructure and policies has become more challenging. Policymakers and businesses must see that the rise of cycling as a means of transport is not just beneficial during the pandemic, but also in the longer run.