Medics Cycle To Hospitals Amid Transport Shutdowns

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 26: Dr. Alejandro Umali, a physician and cycling advocate, is seen wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) inside the Covid-19 ward of The Medical City, a private hospital, on April 26, 2021 in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines. Many Filipinos, including healthcare workers, are hopping on bicycles as an alternative means of transportation as public transit remains restricted in the Philippines during the world's longest Covid-19 lockdown. For Perlin Bon, a nurse at a government-run hospital, she says that aside from saving money, cycling ensures she doesn't infect people in crowded public transporation in-case she's exposed to Covid-19 at work. Despite the pandemic, Manila still experiences the second-worst traffic congestion in the world. Cyclists often have to avoid risks such as potholes and aggressive drivers who see cyclists as mere obstacles. Bike lanes, something that didn't exist before the pandemic, have become common sight in car-centric Manila, but local cycling advocates say this is not enough. They are pushing the government to spend more than $16 million to build nearly 200 miles of bike lanes and infrastructure to further protect ensure the safety of cyclists. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)