To revitalize its cycling culture, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) will be pilot-testing a ride-sharing system. This is done in collaboration with Tipaklong Sustainable Mobility Corporation.

The mobility company will provide e-bikes and e-scooters that can be rented via an app. To improve implementation, a feasibility study will be conducted to determine crucial data such as the total number of trips, the distance traveled, and the carbon-dioxide emissions saved.

This is all part of UPLB’s Green Mobility Initiative, which aims to promote sustainability through active transport. With UPLB’s Transportation System and Traffic Management Master Plan, the community can expect more bike racks, as well as bike lanes, around the campus. Tipaklong will also be providing bicycles to the UPLB Security and Safety Office for its patrol operations.

“As a national university, we need to be conscious of our carbon footprint and proactively engage our constituents with our efforts to be steadfast stewards of our environment,” said UPLB vice chancellor for community affairs Roberto Cereno. “One way of looking at it is by focusing on our transport system.”

Hopefully, more schools in Metro Manila will follow in the footsteps of UPLB in encouraging sustainable mobility—such as the green one on Ortigas and the blue one along Katipunan.