Every fourth Sunday of November, the Philippines celebrates National Bicycle Day. In 2020, under Proclamation 1052, it aimed to recognize cycling as a significant environmental contribution. Three years later, we ask: is a bicycle worth celebrating in the country? In this episode, cycling advocate Karen Crisostomo of Bicycle Friendly Philippines shares a brief history of how National Bike Day originated and highlights this year’s major celebration in Iloilo, one of our premier local cycling cities ..read more

How do you consider a person a real friend? One way to know if you’re good friends with someone is when you get invited to a wedding. Among many of their peers, you get chosen to have a seat and spend time with them at a life milestone. In cycling, friendships don’t usually go beyond bike rides, but it’s great that people, even as adults, get the opportunity to find great friendships through bicycles. Buji Babiera shares his realizations after attending weddings of bike friends and sharing these moments with some peers from the cycling community ..read more

Laguna Loop is perhaps one of the most challenging cycling routes in the Philippines. One can easily cover 200 kilometers after conquering mostly flat roads of Metro Manila, Rizal and Laguna. Buji Babiera recently finished his second century ride in this famous route, but this time, he’s with other bikers. In this episode, he chats with his friends Jilson Tiu, Justin de Dios and Nemo Gonzaga where they recalled their recent adventure and gave tips to those who’d like to take on this challenge ..read more

How do we encourage more people to keep on cycling? At the height of the pandemic, one of the most effective ways to promote biking was by organizing community rides. We have to acknowledge that there are fewer groups hosting these events now, so I decided to take the initiative. Let’s take a look back at the recent community ride organized by First Bike Ride and Esteban Cycling Community to recap what happened and the impact of these efforts on the cycling community ..read more

The recent news affecting the cycling community involves climate change and impressive road infrastructure developments. From smog, traffic, and flooding to incredible road closures and the redesigning of streets, headlines for bikers have been quite exciting lately. In this episode of Tambike Session, we invited seasoned bike commuters to react to the latest issues that directly affect cyclists, to hear various perspectives from these two-wheeled road users ..read more

Bikes bring opportunities. This is one of the most important things I’ve learned since I started cycling regularly. Initially, I had the idea that cycling is accessible to everyone, but after hearing stories from people on the ground, it struck me that many can’t afford to get a bike. In this episode, I want to share the beauty of providing bicycles to individuals who need them — whether it’s for transportation or sports ..read more

Car-free streets are beautiful: people can safely bike, individuals with disabilities enjoy wide roads, runners can move freely, and pets can even walk in the middle of the road. In an incredible move by one of the biggest roads in Metro Manila, Ayala Avenue decided to close its entire stretch to motorized vehicles to accommodate active mobility from 6 am to 10 am every Sunday in September. It’s a great achievement that should be replicated by other cities. In this episode, Buji Babiera relives an incredible Sunday cycling in a car-free day with Paj Lopez and Ally Alvarez ..read more

The Metro Manila Development Authority proposed that bicycles and motorbikes should share a lane along EDSA. This didn’t sit well with mobility advocates, as they deemed it unsafe and inequitable. In a meeting with MMDA and concerned groups, road users suggested that they should each have their own respective lanes. But what do the everyday individuals using these roads think? In this episode, Buji Babiera interviews cyclists and motorbike riders to get their perspective on the issue ..read more

What would you do if you are confronted by an enraged driver with a gun? How can you ensure your safety? These are some of the questions raised following the viral online video involving ex-cop Willie Gonzales. The former police officer struck a cyclist with his car, followed by physical assault and verbal threats with a firearm. Road rage has persisted in the Philippines for years and remains a prevalent issue. In this episode of Tambike Session, we talk about cyclists’ encounters with road rage and their strategies for managing such situations ..read more

After a life-threatening incident, cyclist Mot Rasay shares his thoughts about health and life. Some people usually equate bikers with being absolutely healthy. While cycling and exercise contribute to good physical condition, they are not the only factors in achieving optimum health. In this episode, we discuss our experiences and realizations regarding living a healthy lifestyle ..read more