Panama missing out on bike lanes

Although 80 percent of the population of Panama City does not own a car, no attention has been paid to the needs of cyclists on the streets.

Members of the newly created, 100 strong “Cyclists’Movement” met with representatives of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) to advocate the construction of exclusive routes that allow them to ride the streets of the capital city.

Alex Guaylupo, group coordinator, said the idea is that authorities include the mega construction of bicycle lanes in their planning..

"We are concerned that new developments are not taking into cyclists into account the cyclists," said  Guaylupo.

Meanwhile, members of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives have said that public spaces  are needed in the city, including sidewalks and bike paths, taking into account that 80% of the population have no car.

Few places in the capital have bicycle lanes. Two are the Cinta Costera and the Amador Causeway, but there are no bicycle paths leading to either.

Gaston Schatan, road commission spokesman of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects, regretted that MOP technicians do not take into account the needs of cyclists.

"The bicycle is a good solution to the problem of transportation. For safe use, exclusive lanes are needed, and in Panama there are not many. Europe and Asia have many examples that could be followed, "he said.

Mega projects being carried out do not include the development of bicycle lanes. In many European cities, including Paris and London, bicycles can be rented at one spot and dropped off at another, In many countries, including China, millions of people cycle to work each day, and in northen climes like Canada, cyclists brave even snow and ice, and there are bicycle messenger services.