Marikina Bike Lanes Anyone?
Posted by: pixelus on: May 8, 2007
- In: bike| bike lanes| bike to work| cycling
- Comment!
Marikina, the city where I live has become well known for various things: the shoe capital of the Philippines; one of the cleanest cities of the country in the past years; and more recently, as a bike friendly city. Several kilometers of bike lanes have been constructed, supposedly to help bikers be more safe in their biking pursuits. I myself have used them, but with some misgivings. I could argue both for or against them, but you be the judge, after viewing these pictures.
It seems that not all residents are bike friendly or consider bike lanes as belonging to bikers. Drivers park with impunity at these bike lanes and doesn’t seem to mind that they are displacing the bikers who are the legitimate users.
Jeepney driver versus biker: who will win?
A handsome pair of a jeepney and a tricycle on a bike lane.
2 Responses to "Marikina Bike Lanes Anyone?"
May 8, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I know the route you are referring to. You might be surprised/disappointed to hear from me that I myself don’t use that particular portion of Marikina’s bike lane. I made a post about this in the fireflybrigade forum and I will just paste it here.
From the fireflybrigade forum:
I’m from Marikina and I use my bike daily to go to work in a call center along C5, just near Red Ribbon. I really appreciate the bike lanes in this city but for me, not all of the sections of the bike lanes were thoroughly planned to actually be safe to use. There have been several instances when I was almost hit by a parked vehicle alongside the bike lanes, and since then I avoided using that particular section. I am referring to the one along J.P. Rizal (turning right after the bridge). The bike lane is laid out in such a way that it is along the side where vehicles are parked. This is most dangerous because the vehicle’s passengers could not see a biker coming behind them and if they get out of the vehicle without looking first if there is a biker coming, then, opening the door at the moment a biker is passing would certainly result in someone being injured, and most likely this would be the biker.
This is what happened to me on one occasion, only I was able to brake in time just before I hit the open door. And in another occasion, just after John Wilkie bike shop where I just had my bottom bracket changed and I was road testing my bike, a jeepney almost hit me as it was easing itself out of the parking space, without looking behind him if it was clear to go forward.
What I know is that a biker should position him/herself at least four feet away from a parked vehicle precisely to avoid being hit by it’s door if and when the passenger or driver suddenly decides to get out of the vehicle. This particular bike lane I am referring to does exactly the opposite. If you will follow the outline of the lane, you are forced bike alongside the parked vehicles, with no more than six (6) inches of clearance from the door. To avoid this danger, I either bike outside of the lane or position myself on the opposite side.
Just expressing my disappointment about this much publicized Marikina bike lanes. (At least a part of it only) 
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thanks for your comment, Jovan.
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May 8, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Hello! Stumbled upon your blog. Really nice!
Anyway, I frequent Marikina for the bike shops coming from Katipunan area. When I’m there, I make it a point to use the lanes as much as I can.
What disturbs me is that there are some cyclists that don’t use the lanes. Sayang! Coming from John Wilkie going to Joven, I was using the bike lane on the left part of the road and then I saw a cyclist biking on the right side.