San Miguel plans plastic-made bike lane projects with local governments

SAN MIGUEl Corp. (SMC) is hoping to work with local governments and its so-called “technology partners” to build bicycle lanes made of recycled plastics, it said in a statement on Monday.

SMC is also hoping to use recycled plastics for road projects “someday.”

“But development is still considered to be in the early stages, considering the need for continuous testing to determine its long-term viability,” it noted.

SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said: “It has almost been a year since we started our plastic road initiative and so far, our pilot site has held up very well. It’s in our logistics facility—used heavily everyday by large vehicles with heavy loads. Very soon, I think we can graduate it for light public use, specifically, for bicycle lanes.”

The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II), which was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sept. 11, set aside P1.3 billion for the development of accessible sidewalks, protected bicycle lanes, and promotion of active transport, according to the Department of Finance.

The Department of Transportation partnered with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Health, and Department of Public Works and Highways to construct protected bike lanes “to connect major roads, residential areas, and high-volume commuter areas to major medical facilities.” — Arjay L. Balinbin