Manila's Grassroots Coalition Wins Major Victory: New Cycling Lanes and Bus Routes Prioritize Everyday Commuters
Photo: Christopher Kirk Dulalia / Unsplash
After years of organized advocacy, a national coalition successfully shifted transportation priorities in Manila away from car-centric planning toward cyclist and public transit infrastructure. The transformation redirects funding that for decades overwhelmingly favored the small percentage of car owners, now serving the millions who rely on buses, bicycles, and walking—a shift that's gaining recognition globally as a model for equitable urban planning.
After years of organized advocacy, a national coalition successfully shifted transportation priorities in Manila away from car-centric planning toward cyclist and public transit infrastructure. The transformation redirects funding that for decades overwhelmingly favored the small percentage of car owners, now serving the millions who rely on buses, bicycles, and walking—a shift that’s gaining recognition globally as a model for equitable urban planning.