THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation on Tuesday encouraged educational institutions to establish bike facilities for those who will use bicycles to go to school.

In a statement, DOTr asked the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education to provide “End-of-Trip facilities” within school vicinities to allow students, teachers, and other school employees to utilize cycling as their primary mode of transportation.

“The establishment of the EoT facilities, which include parking spaces for bicycles—sheds, bike racks, as well as showers, will encourage students, teachers, and other school personnel to use existing bicycle lanes,” Jaime Bautista, DOTr Secretary, said.

Under Department Order No. 2020-014, children up to 15 years of age are allowed to utilize bicycle lanes along national and primary roads, provided that they are accompanied by an adult cyclist.

To ensure their safety, the Transport department has also appealed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Land Transportation Office to deploy additional traffic enforcers and marshals at school zones.

“Road safety is of paramount importance. As students return to face-to-face classes, they are subjected yet again to vulnerability on the road,” DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said.

“With this, we would like to remind all our motorists to share the road for the safety of all other road users, especially our cyclists and pedestrians—including our learners,” he added.