DPWH requiring bicycle lanes for all future roads

DPWH prescribes standard bicycle lane width and designs

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will require the creation of bicycle lanes on all future national roads and bridges.

Under Department Order No. 88, series of 2020, all future road and bridge construction, as well as widening projects shall incorporate a bicycle lane. In the document, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, issues standard dimensions and requirements that LGUs should follow when creating bike lanes on all national highways. They should be no less than 2.44 meters wide.

“From now onwards, design of new national roads and bridges will have a minimum width of 2.44-meter bike lane feature for one (1) direction. The desirable width of three (3) meters is set for a 2-directional separated bike lane, unless under constrained condition which will follow the absolute minimum of 2.44 meters. This policy also covers road/bridge widening, diversion/bypass roads among others,” said Villar.

According to Villar, future bicycle lane projects will be classified as Class 1 which is a designated protected path that is completely separated from the motor-vehicle roadway by an open space with sidewalk; Class 2 which is a portion of a roadway designated for the exclusive use of bicycle and is separated from the motor-vehicle roadway through pavement marking or physical separation; and Class 3 which is part of a roadway that has been officially designated and marked as bicycle route but can also be used by motor vehicles due to limited carriageway width.

Under the guidelines, the class, width, and directional criteria for the construction of new bike lanes will be established based on motor vehicle volume and operating speed, available road, shoulder and sidewalk space, lane configuration, bicycle demand, and other possible driveway and parking conflicts.

Class 3 Bicycle Lanes or the shared roadway is recommended for roads operating with the lowest speed and traffic volume; separated bike lanse using pavement markings under Class 2 is for low speed to low to moderate traffic volume; and separated bike lanes using physical separation under Class 2 or shared-use path under Class 1 is for moderate to high speed and high traffic volume.