COVID-19 pandemic: Filipinos turn to pedal power amid transport crunch

MANILA, Philippines — Mr David Llorito, 56, a communications officer on the World Financial institution, used to cowl about 100km a day on his touring bicycle.

In one among his bike-packing adventures final 12 months, he managed to pedal his means for about 300km throughout Panay island within the central Philippines earlier than a hurricane caught up with him.

Then got here the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, he’s right down to biking simply 15km a day.

“I exploit it for provide runs. I exploit it to go to open markets. I’m nonetheless cautious of going to the department stores due to information that the virus is within the air,” he mentioned.

However whereas his wings have been clipped, he’s glad that he’s now seeing extra fellow cyclists on the highway.

With public transport nonetheless scarce due to shelter-at-home restrictions to sluggish the unfold of Covid-19, lots of of hundreds of Filipinos are turning to bicycles to take them the place they should go.

Bicycles are promoting like sizzling truffles, with racks at even high-end bike outlets empty.

A small store in Manila’s La Loma district has needed to replenish its inventory each week as a result of bicycles have been being snapped up as quickly as they arrived.

“We’re promoting seven to 10 bicycles per week, way over what we used to,” mentioned Ms Princess Dianne Barino, 21, a clerk on the store.

Entry-level bikes that promote for P5,000 to P7,000 are the preferred.

It’s not simply bicycles which are in sizzling demand.

“We promote about 100 helmets per week,” mentioned Ms Barino.

Mr Llorito mentioned he as soon as went to 4 bike outlets in search of a brake set and a seat put up.

“You possibly can simply get these components earlier than the pandemic. Now, it’s a must to put your title on an inventory and wait,” he mentioned.

Three out of each 4 folks in Manila can not afford a automotive or motorbike. And with very restricted bus and practice companies, the one possibility for a lot of to get to work or a grocery retailer is both by strolling or pedaling.

Not surprisingly, the bicycle is the extra fascinating of the 2.

A research by the e-commerce aggregator iPrice Group has discovered that Filipinos have been 3 times extra more likely to search on-line for bicycles to purchase in June as they did in April.

Even electrical bikes and scooters are being snapped up. Google searches for e-bikes and e-scooters grew by as much as 189 per cent, in response to iPrice.

Mr Llorito is hoping this newfound enthusiasm amongst Filipinos for the bicycle won’t wane after the Covid-19 outbreak is over.

He mentioned the pandemic had spurred the federal government into constructing infrastructure to help biking as a lifestyle.

Visitors officers are creating bike lanes alongside roads and highways, and malls are lastly allocating parking house for bicycles.

“That’s one pull issue. Hopefully, the keenness amongst native authorities items will proceed,” mentioned Mr Llorito.

He additionally believes that those that have gone into biking as a part of their each day routine will finally make it a lifestyle, even when it’s already deemed protected to as soon as once more trip a practice or a bus.

“There’s at all times this straightforward pleasure of utilizing your personal leg energy to maneuver round. It provides you a way of freedom. It provides you a way that each trip is a satisfying expertise,” he mentioned.

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