On a breezy January morning, Rizal Park Luneta — long a symbol of Philippine history and public life — took on a gentler, greener rhythm. Cyclists from across Metro Manila gathered not for a race, but for a shared vision: A city where moving sustainably is a way of life.
The occasion marked the relaunch of bike racks at Rizal Park Luneta, an initiative supported by the European Union (EU) and carried out in partnership with the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC). More than a ribbon-cutting, the event felt like a quiet but determined celebration of urban possibilities where heritage spaces and modern lifestyles can coexist.
“The European Union has set ambitious targets to combat climate change. We are working to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. But we know that climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions,” said EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro.
“It is heartwarming to note that today we are all convinced that soft mobility, through public transport and bicycles, are effective and affordable solutions for achieving these objectives,” he added.
For Luneta visitors, the newly rehabilitated bike racks are a small but meaningful invitation: arrive by bicycle, linger longer, breathe easier.
According to Ambassador Santoro, the racks represent cycling as a viable and accessible mode of transport; one that reduces carbon emissions and traffic congestion, improves air quality, and supports a healthier lifestyle within the city’s most iconic green space.
The project extends beyond Luneta, with similar facilities rehabilitated in Intramuros, reinforcing the idea that even heritage districts can welcome contemporary, climate-friendly habits.
As NPDC Deputy Executive Director Jezreel Gaius A. Apelar put it: “These facilities and partnerships stand as a testament to our shared commitment to promoting active mobility, sustainability, and inclusivity in our public spaces. They also represent our support for environmentally responsible transport and our dedication to making our parks more accessible to all through international cooperation.”
The relaunch drew support from cycling groups and sustainable-living advocates including Kalyetista, CYCAD, Cyclebros, Firefly Brigade, Tiklop Society of the Philippines, PINASLOWRIDAZBC, and Make it Safer Movement—communities that see bicycles not just as transport, but as tools for connection.
In a symbolic moment, participants rang their bike bells in unison, a lighthearted call for families and communities to do their share in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reclaiming streets for people.
Mia Bunao, Administrator of Kalyetista/Explore Your City on a Bicycle, described the project as more than infrastructure: an enduring gift that fosters community and reflects pakikipagkapwa (being one with others) in the shared mission to build livable cities.
Poetry, too, found its place among spokes and spokespeople. Dr. Roselle Leah Rivera of Firefly Brigade Inc remarked: “We summon the city to the dusk-dance of wheels, pedals pulsing like heartbeats in cooling twilight. Fireflies reborn in flickering bike-lights as communities rise, ride, and breathe as one, each crank-turn sparking awareness and every mile rekindling climate courage.”
For Pio Fortuno Jr., President of Tiklop Society of the Philippines, the moment carried both symbolic and practical weight: “Today is a great day, as we bear witness to the relaunching of the bike racks at the Luneta. While every completion of any bicycle friendly infrastructure is a cause for celebration, this one is special since it allows bicycle access to the Philippines’ foremost historical landmark, and it is made possible from friends from the European Union.”
In a city often defined by congestion and concrete, the return of bike racks to Luneta is a reminder that progress does not always roar. Sometimes, it arrives quietly on two wheels, with a ringing bell, and the promise of a softer way to move.