EDITORIAL — A good idea, but…

There is now a proposal from the Sugbo Bike Lanes Board to establish more end-of-trip facilities (EOTF) for bikers in Cebu City to encourage more people to use their bicycle to get to work instead of using public transportation or private cars.

EOTF include bike racks, storage facilities, repair stations, and even changing rooms and shower facilities.

There is no doubt this move is a step in the right direction, we cannot stress enough the benefits of using a bicycle to commute; bikers get good exercise, it will mean more seats in public transportation for those who cannot bike to work, and less traffic and air pollution on the road, especially if many choose to bike to work instead of driving private cars.

This can also promote the city as a friendly destination for cyclists. Yes, there are people all over the world who will visit a place just so they can ride around it in their bicycles.

Of course, our problem with infrastructure has always been in who maintains and guards them.

Because as reported in an article in this newspaper, EOTF have been established before, but these have been left to fall into disrepair, vandalized by never-do-wells, or ransacked by thieves.

This really isn’t surprising as we have this tendency to not take care of or take for granted whatever is given to us, especially when it comes to infrastructure. Need we mention those playgrounds donated to a barangay but left to dilapidate?

For those proposed additional EOTF to make more impact and encourage biking, the local government units have to make sure they are safe from vandals, thieves, and also perverts.

Aside from that they also have to carry out regular maintenance as even facilities that don’t see heavy activity or use will still experience wear.

And after all that it’s worth mentioning that many so-called bike lanes around the city still cannot be fully utilized by people who want to use their bicycles to commute because drivers of private vehicles like to park in them and some businesses actually use them. Perhaps more regular patrols enforcing bike lanes can also be carried out.