BIKE MURAL. A bike mural in Iloilo City’s Lapuz district depicts Ilonggo's appreciation of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation. Iloilo City will host the National Bike Day 2023 celebration – Bike Lane Awards on Nov. 26. (Photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor’s Office)
ILOILO CITY – Seventeen awards are up for grabs to highlight the National Bike Day 2023 celebration in this city on Nov. 26.
Scheduled is a series of events, including a bike expo/festival, exhibit, and bike tour/food tour on Nov. 24; and a bike fun ride, circuit race, activity mobility forum, and national bike day opening ceremonies on Nov. 25, which will gather around 3,000 enthusiasts from Iloilo and other participating local government units (LGUs) in the country.
“On the 26th, Sunday will be the awarding of different LGUs. We have different awards, those who excel in bike infra, and those who excel in personal activities as leisure cyclists, advocacy cyclists,” said celebration director Arch. Wilfredo Sy Jr. in a press conference on Tuesday.
Included in the list of awards are Notable Public Official for Active Transport, Notable Competitive Cyclist, Notable Commuter Cyclist, Notable Leisure Cyclist, Notable Storyteller, Notable Bicycle-related Corporate Initiative, and Notable Bicycle-related Micro, Small and Medium Initiative, Notable Advocacy Initiative, LGU Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, Bike Lane Infrastructure Quality Award, and End-of-Trip Infrastructure Quality Award.
There will also be 1st to third places for the photo contest and the People’s Choice Award.
Presidential Proclamation 1052, series of 2022, declared the last Sunday of November National Bike Day to emphasize the importance of a non-motorized form of transportation.
“We have the prestige of hosting it because this will be the first time that is held outside of Metro Manila. During the National Bike Awards, Iloilo City, aside from hosting, will be also a judge for other participating cities all over the country. This just shows that in terms of infrastructure advocacy and bike-related programs, we are a bit ahead of the rest of the country,” Sy said.
Iloilo City has an existing 50-kilometer bike lane, but plans are underway for the inclusion of bike lanes in new roads and conversion into a bike highway for the slope protection of rivers and creeks.
Once completed, the city government’s bike network can extend up to 100 kilometers in the next five years. (PNA)
