Bike lane enforcers set to begin apprehensions

MOTORISTS who use designated bicycle lanes in Cebu City as parking area will be apprehended and their vehicles towed away beginning May.

Lawyer Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the Sugbo Bike Lanes Board (SBLB), said 30 enforcers on bicycles will be deployed beginning May. They are about to complete training on traffic laws and signs.

With their deployment, Carillo said full implementation of City Ordinance No. 2408, or The Sugbo Bike Lanes Ordinance, will begin next week.

At present, he said Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) personnel enforce the ordinance, but they could not cover all bike lanes in the city.

A total of 60 enforcers, led by retired police colonel Ranulfo Sebusa, will eventually be deployed across the city to ensure that the bike lanes are free of motor vehicles and safe for the bicycle riders.

Carillo said the enforcers have been deputized to enforce traffic laws and compliance to the bike lane ordinance.

They are authorized to issue citation tickets and order the removal of vehicles found on the bike lanes.

Carillo said he was informed by Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia that the City Council has approved the P20 million budget sought by the SBLB to enforce the bike lanes.

Part of the amount will be used to procure additional plastic bollards for the bike lanes on secondary roads. At present, only the bike lanes on the main roads have plastic bollards.

The budget will also finance the salaries of the deputized personnel, Carillo said. Each enforcer is required to have his own bicycle.

Aside from the enforcers deputized by the Cebu City Government, Carillo said the Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) fraternity has offered to deploy volunteer enforcers as force multipliers.

Other organizations have made similar offers.

City Ordinance 2408 was approved by the City Council in 2014 to provide shared priority bike lanes in designated roads in the city.

The Cebu City Government completed the bike lanes on 24 roads only this year.

Among the roads with 1.5-meter bike lanes are V. Rama Ave., Salvador St., Katipunan St., Tres de Abril St., Carlock St., B. Aranas St., Lakandula St., Tupas St., Magallanes St., Jakosalem St. Osmeña Blvd., Lapu-Lapu St. and Urdaneta St.

Others are M.J. Cuenco Ave., New Imus Road, F. Gochan St., F. Cabahug St., Cardinal Rosales Ave., Ayala Road, Gorordo Ave., Gen. Maxilom Ave., Fuente Osmeña Rotunda and B. Rodriguez St. (REV)