In a vibrant display of civic engagement, 250 biking enthusiasts pedaled their way through key locations in Quezon City as part of a Labor Day Ride on May 1st. The event, organized by First Bike Ride in cooperation with the Esteban Cycling Community, served as a clear call for greater support and infrastructure for cyclists—not just in the biggest city in the metropolis but everywhere there are citizens who choose cycling as a mode of transportation.
Originally organized for just 75 cyclists, the list grew in size after several biking communities from Quezon City and as far as Bulacan trooped to award-winning, bike-friendly coffee shop Magdamag Market Café at South Triangle for the 7AM rideout.
“[In today’s ride], we celebrate the workforce—whether they bike to work or work to maintain their cycling lifestyle.” Buji Babiera, founder of First Bike Ride and host of the holiday event, shared at the event’s closing ceremony. Babiera is proudly represented by NYMA, the artist management arm of Kroma Entertainment.
While the event showcased the commitment of cyclists to promote bicycles as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation, it was also designed as an avenue to see Quezon City’s robust backing for cyclists and its efforts to ensure road safety.
The 10-kilometer route traversed the usually busy thoroughfares of East Avenue, Teacher’s Village, and Quezon Avenue. They also went to check the different kinds of protected bike lanes of Quezon City.
“Many places in Metro Manila are gradually removing bike lanes, and there is even discussion about removing bike lanes on EDSA, that’s why our visibility on the road is very important. [So] people in power can see that there are still people using and benefiting from them,” Babiera emphasized.
The Labor Day Ride was both a celebration of cycling as a lifestyle and a platform for advocacy and dialogue between the cycling community and the government. It highlighted the urgent need for collaborative efforts to create safer and more accessible streets for cyclists, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and livable city for all.
The celebration culminated with a get-together at the Magdamag Market Café where fun games and giveaways from brands supportive of the cycling community and its advocacy awaited participants.
Following the event’s success, Babiera and team eagerly anticipate organizing more advocacy rides in more cities in the future.
