Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has approved the reduction of fines for bikers not wearing a helmet.
She lauded the city council, led by Majority Leader Franz Pumaren, for heeding the citizens’ call to lower the fines for bicycle riders not wearing safety helmets while traversing city roads.
“We express our deep gratitude to the city council for recognizing and addressing the citizens’ collective sentiment on the heavy fines being imposed on bicycle riders,” she said.
“The purpose of this ordinance is not to punish but to stress the safety of every rider,” she added.
The councilors passed Ordinance SP-2942, reducing the original fines of P1,000, P3,000 and P5,000 to P300, P500 and P1,000 for the first, second and third offense, respectively.
“This shows that the council listens and is ready to act to be able to respond to the complaints of the people,” Belmonte said.
“We have to ensure the safety of our bikers, especially there is a lot public utility vehicles amid the (COVID-19) pandemic,” she added.
She reiterated her plan to give bicycle riders ample time to comply with the measure before fully enforcing it.
The city’s Department of Public Order and Safety has been reminding the bikers to wear a helmet and distributing free helmets to those who could not afford to buy one.
She directed concerned departments to work closely with bikers’ groups and advocates, such as the Bikers United Marshalls, in promoting road user education and improving bike lanes.
