When discussing bike-friendly cities in the Philippines, Cebu City or any city in Metro Cebu is not included among the top five urban centers. Leading the list is Quezon City in Metro Manila.
Quezon City's Cycling Infrastructure
The city has over 200 kilometers of bike lanes, and thousands of cyclists take to the streets daily. The local government promotes bicycles as a serious alternative mode of transportation. This is what sets Quezon City apart, as it has a strong bike commuting culture, similar to other areas in the country.
Iloilo City's Cycling Appeal
Iloilo City is one of the top cycling cities in the nation. It is known for its wide roads, riverside pathways, and well-planned bike lanes. Many residents are encouraged to cycle for their daily activities, including commuting to work. Iloilo has the best cycling culture outside of Metro Manila.
Marikina's Pioneering Role
Another city in Metro Manila, Marikina, is a pioneer in bike infrastructure in the country. It has bike lanes because it promotes a cycling culture for daily commuting as an alternative mode of transport.
Among the three cities, the author has directly observed the bike lanes in Marikina, having visited the city a few years ago to study their bike lanes. The roads with bike lanes are not wide. It was observed that cyclists are given priority when they are on the bike lane. Even public utility jeepneys give way.
Local Government Support
The cycling culture thrives and strengthens through the support of local government units. This is what the author observed in the three cities with good bike culture.
Cebu City and Mandaue City had potential, but it was not sustained. Both cities were once recognized as bike-friendly cities, but this status has faded after the Covid-19 pandemic, as transportation returned to normal.
Cebu City had a bike board and promoted cycling. However, a major gap is the lack of support from barangays amid resistance from other road users, especially in urban centers where bike lanes are blocked, and bollards are removed from exclusive lanes provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Without support from barangays, the cycling culture will struggle to develop. However, in 2025, around 218,000 cyclists were counted in 15 cities. This number is small compared to the total population, but it is growing each year.
