DOTr and Muntinlupa LGU opens new end-of-trip cycling facility with bike racks, shower rooms
With gasoline and diesel prices climbing sharply and with no sign of going down, some motorists may be looking at bicycles as a cheaper way to cover part of their daily commute. There’s good news, as cyclists now have a new place to park their bikes, freshen up and connect to public transportation.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Muntinlupa City government inaugurated an end-of-trip cycling facility in Alabang on Tuesday, September 22, along with three new public transport stops.
Transportation Secretary, Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, said the project reflects the government’s push to provide facilities for commuters and cyclists alongside major transportation projects.
If you look at the direction the government is taking, the President’s standing instruction to us is that while we need to give attention to major projects, the DOTr should never forget the welfare of commuters and cyclists.
He added that support for cyclists is becoming more relevant as rising fuel prices drive interest in alternative transport options such as bicycles, bike lanes and other active transport initiatives.
The end-of-trip facility has 48 dedicated bicycle racks, as well as bathrooms for cyclists to freshen up. It is intended for commuters who cycle to the area before switching to public transportation or continuing to their workplaces.
The project is part of the DOTr’s Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program, which is facing a 97% cut in its proposed 2027 budget. The facility was funded under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, with a contract cost of PHP 16.121 million.
Three new public transport stops were also inaugurated in the Alabang area. The stops are intended to provide designated locations for passengers to board and alight from public utility vehicles.
The Muntinlupa project is part of the national government’s Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program, which covers bike lanes, bike racks, end-of-trip facilities and public transport stops. The city received PHP 86.1 million from the DOTr for projects under the program.
For Southies who live close enough to cycle, the facility provides another way to combine bicycles with public transportation. A commuter can ride to the area, secure the bike, use the facility and continue the trip by PUV instead of relying entirely on a motorcycle or car.
