Volunteers conducting a manual bike count in Iloilo City recorded an increase in the number of bicycle users amid oil price increases.
Iloilo Bike Ed for Road Safety logged 8,628 bikers on June 17, higher by 33 percent compared to 6,943 bikers registered on June 3.
“This increase comes as no surprise given that as of June 14, per-liter prices have gone up by P28.70 for gasoline, P41.15 for diesel, and P37.95 for kerosene since the start of 2022, according to the Department of Energy’s latest monitor,” the group said.
The count was conducted in 20 sites during peak hours or rush hours for commuting —from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Significant increases were observed at the following intersections: Benigno Aquino Ave and El 98 (50 percent) Molo Plaza (37 percent), and Avancena Street and Quezon (29 percent).
The group also cited the implementation of the city’s Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) as a factor in the increase.
The city government rolled out its new traffic route plan on June 12. This prohibited provincial jeepneys from entering the metropolis and introduced new routes.
The last count was conducted on June 24, but the group has yet to release the figure.
The Friday Bike Count is a volunteer-run initiative that aims to generate information that can assist in crafting data-backed transport policies and in planning out inclusive mobility infrastructure.
Supported by the city government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the initiative was spearheaded by iFold and Mobility Awards.IMT
