The Philippine Online Chronicles

The 13^th Tour of the Fireflies will fire off today with over 10,000 riders expected to join the mass ride aimed at promoting environmentally sound, non-motorized forms of transportation.

This year’s tour will traverse Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Quezon City, Manila and Pasay cities and will run an approximate distance of 42 kilometers which will take around 4 to 5 hours to complete at a relaxed pace of 12 to 15 kilometers per hour. Simultaneous rides will be held in Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas, Cebu, General Santos and Palawan as part of the event with the theme “Bicycle Revolution.”

The Tour of the Fireflies is an annual mass ride held every third week of April aimed at making the country firefly-friendly. According to scientific research, presence of fireflies is an indication of an environment with clear air. This explains why fireflies thrive in places such as Palawan, Bohol and Donsol in Sorsogon.

It also aims to raise public awareness about the benefits of using bicycles as an affordable and eco-friendly form of alternative transport.

According to Firefly Brigade president Ricky Pineda, “revolution entails a radical change in one’s way of living. For us, a bicycle revolution means rallying people and lobbying for the establishment of cycle-inclusive urban and regional planning.”

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed Senate Bill No. 2789 to promote riding the bicycle as an alternative solution amid rising gas prices.

The Bike-Friendly Communities Act, will mandate the Department of Transportation and Communication to establish a bike program to promote safe biking in all towns and cities, including the construction and maintenance of bicycle lanes, parking, and support facilities.

Under the bill, public places, including government offices and major business establishments will be required to provide bicycle racks for bicycle parking which are secure, visible, and accessible.

The measure aims to “establish a nation-wide bicycle program that would empower citizens by providing them with a concrete alternative means of commuting from one city to another.

“This integration of bicycling into the country's transport system and city planning would ensure that the program becomes more permanent,” Santiago said. To support such a program, the proper infrastructure must be created. Without it, biking on Philippine roads remains hazardous to the cyclist,” the Senator added.

The Tour of the Fireflies will start at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City at 7 a.m. and will end around 12 noon at the Tiendesitas Complex in Pasig City.