QUEZON CITY, June 11, 2026 — Eighty Filipino workers transformed today’s morning rush hour into a powerful demonstration for more cycling infrastructure, organizing a Workers’ Bike Bus along EDSA [1] to call for freedom from imported oil, freedom from traffic, and freedom of movement for all.
The activity, held on the eve of Independence Day, frames active transport (such as walking and cycling) as a modern-day independence movement in a nation where 94 percent of households do not own cars [2]. It was organized by 350 Pilipinas [3] on behalf of the Mobility Awards [4].
The Workers’ Bike Bus saw the cyclists travel a 10-kilometer intercity route from Quezon City Hall to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) End-of-Trip Facility in Pasig City. Moving together in a high-visibility formation, the bike commuters reclaimed major roads, establishing a bus-like formation and demonstrating safety in numbers.
Calling active transport a vital economic shield against volatile energy prices and gridlock, advocates stressed that this protection must start with the most vulnerable road users, including women, young people, and beginner cyclists.
“The Bike Bus is a direct challenge to our leaders: stop prioritizing cars and start building for people. Our roads will only be free when they are safe, inclusive, and built to move every single Filipino, underscoring the responsibility of implementing agencies and local governments to put effort in inclusive road infrastructure and facilities that enable diverse modes of transport,” said Jheny Dabu, sustainable transport campaigner for 350 Pilipinas.
“Our workers cannot be truly free if they are forced to spend half their day trapped in traffic and half their paycheck on rising fuel costs. Active transport is our ticket to economic independence. Ahead of the President’s State of the Nation Address, we are demanding that policymakers fund our freedom by investing in interconnected infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in the national budget,” added Amber Garma, national coordinator for the Mobility Awards.
Garma pointed to a severe crisis in infrastructure funding, highlighting a staggering 94 percent crash in the active transport budget, which plummeted from a peak of two billion pesos in 2022 down to a measly 105 million pesos in 2026.
The June 11 Independence Eve ride follows a successful post-World Bicycle Day pilot last June 4, where 60 cyclists navigated through some of Quezon City’s tightest transport bottlenecks.
In both instances, workers were supported and escorted along the route by officials from MMDA and the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety – Green Transport Division, as well as members of the 350 Pilipinas Bike Squad and Happy Pedal Project.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
[1] Access Bike Bus photos at bit.ly/BikeBus-11Jun26
[2] Social Weather Stations, 2022
[3] 350 Pilipinas is an advocacy organization working for climate action that is based on the realities of science and grounded on the principles of justice.
[4] The Mobility Awards recognizes outstanding champions of active mobility across the Philippines. It is convened by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, MNL Moves, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, 350 Pilipinas, and Pinay Bike Commuter in partnership with local active mobility organizations nationwide.
CONTACT
Denise Fontanilla, Mobility Awards communications coordinator: denise@350pilipinas.org, +63 917 851 4890
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