MANILA, Philippines—With the ever-worsening hellish traffic in the metro, the need for greater mobility, and greater health consciousness have combined to drive and fuel the growing popularity of biking in the Philippines. The number of bikers grew at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, when bicycles were one of the few allowed modes of transportation.
Filipinos have since kept pedaling on even with the restrictions lifted, having discovered the innate joys of biking—whether it’s to go to the office, to do chores, or to discover Metro Manila’s hidden wonders.
With the growing two-wheel movement, calls for improved biking infrastructure and education in Metro Manila have since been made to make cycling safer. Stepping up to meet the demand, Allianz PNB Life has unveiled a new place for bikers in the heart of Bonifacio Global City.
Images courtesy of The Bikeyard via Allianz PNB
Located along 28th Avenue, Lane O, The Bikeyard is an environmentally-friendly place for people to meet up for rides, discuss hot routes, plan two-wheeled adventures or simply take a breather from pedaling. Standing out amidst the buildings that dot BGC, it is a landmark in itself. The park’s well-thought-out design features bike amenities such as elevated bike racks and tables that can double as bike parking built from recycled and biodegradable material to reflect Allianz PNB’s sustainability commitment.
Built not just for bikers but for the entire BGC community, The Bikeyard is part of the company’s award-winning Ride Safe campaign, which aims to support Filipino’s growing interest in healthy and carbon-free transport by offering simple, fair, and sustainable solutions. This helps encourage more Filipinos to embrace biking as their preferred mode of transportation, thereby helping lower their carbon footprint.
(From L-R) J Teodoro, COO of FBDC; Alexander Grenz, CEO of Allianz PNB; Jorge Bocobo, Barangay Captain of Fort Bonifacio, Wick Veloso, President & CEO of PNB, and Gino Riola, Chief Marketing Officer of Allianz PNB. Image courtesy of The Bikeyard via Allianz PNB.
Through its Ride Safe campaign, the company has already donated artistic and functional bike racks to four major parks in the City of Manila, and the country’s first solar-powered bike pitstop in San Juan.
Earlier this year, Allianz PNB was recognized as the #1 insurance brand in the world for the third straight year by the global Interbrand rankings. More recently, Allianz PNB was also named as the most sustainable insurer in the world by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a testament to the company’s adherence to Environmental, Social Inclusion, and Governance standards. This speaks to the company’s commitment to sustainability, which includes plans for youth empowerment, financial inclusion, and sustainable product development.
Images courtesy of The Bikeyard via Allianz PNB.
“Biking is such an underrated activity and I am glad to see more and more Filipinos taking interest. During the pandemic, I saw cities build bike lanes to protect bikers. This inspired us to think of how to support this,” said Allianz PNB president and CEO, Alexander Grenz. The various projects in Metro Manila, he said, reflects Allianz PNB’s efforts to help provide environmental solutions, adding that “sustainability is in our DNA.”
If you’re thinking of going around BGC, consider taking a ride on your trusty bike and drop by The Bikeyard, not only for your health but to help lessen your carbon footprint.