For many Pinoys, buying a car is a milestone. After years of saving, a vehicle (or motorcycle) you can drive means finally being able to leave behind crowded buses, long waits and the daily hassle of commuting to work.

But with diesel prices now breaching PHP 100 per liter and gasoline prices close behind, some motorists are now looking for alternatives. The same workers who worked hard to afford a car may now be looking at bicycles and public transportation again as a way to bring down their daily travel costs.

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There’s good news, though, in Alabang. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Muntinlupa City government recently opened an end-of-trip cycling facility where commuters can park their bicycles, freshen up and connect to local public transportation.

The facility has 48 bicycle racks, shower rooms, lockers and a bike repair area with basic tools. It gives cyclists a place to secure their bikes before continuing their journey via public transport.

Transportation Secretary, Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, said the project reflects the government’s push to provide facilities for commuters and cyclists alongside major transportation projects.

“If you look at the direction the government is taking, the President’s standing instruction to us is that while we need to give attention to major projects, the DOTr should never forget the welfare of commuters and cyclists,” Lopez said.

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He added that support for cyclists is becoming more relevant as rising fuel prices drive interest in alternative transport options such as bicycles, bike lanes and other active transport initiatives.

The project is part of the DOTr’s Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program, which is also facing a 97% reduction in its proposed 2027 budget.

The Alabang facility was funded under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, with a contract cost of PHP 16.121 million.

Three new PUV stops were also inaugurated at the Alabang City Terminal, Sitio Masagana and the Muntinlupa City Police Station. Each has a shelter and seating for commuters, including persons with disabilities, pregnant women and senior citizens.

The stops also have charging ports, bike network maps, solar panels and emergency contact numbers that passengers can call when needed.

Would you ditch the car at home and go back to commuting? Or skip the PUV and bike all the way to work (which is the ultimate money saver)?