In comparison with many different cities all over the world, Metro Manila is just not a bike-friendly vacation spot. Town itself, with the city sprawl, horrible visitors, and lack of secure and safe bicycle lanes, makes it fairly scary to discover on two wheels. Certain, yow will discover many areas for city biking within the metropolis however chances are high, these spots are tough to get to otherwise you’ll be uncovered to the polluted metropolis more often than not.
For individuals who need to bike safely someplace with a refreshing view of nature, there are solely a handful of locations in and close to the metro which have scenic trails and parks preferrred for biking. These are just some of the perfect that I can personally advocate.
NOTE: This was initially written in the course of the pandemic in 2020. Some areas round Metro Manila have developed higher bike lanes, whereas others have been paved over or privatized for business developments.
UP Diliman Campus, Quezon Metropolis
The 493-hectare campus of the College of the Philippines is a haven for joggers and cyclists. The State College is thought for its 2.2 kilometer lengthy tree-lined Tutorial Oval with a chosen bikers’ and runners’ lane, the most effective locations to do rounds within the metropolis on any sort of motorbike.
On Sundays, your entire space is closed off to motorized autos so it’s a prime vacation spot for runners, bikers, longboard skaters and households who simply need to benefit from the shade of the timber.
Except for circling the oval, you may as well discover a whole lot of huge grassy areas and hidden trails across the campus together with behind The Science Complicated, Heartbreak Hill, College Avenue Pump Observe and Lagoon space.
Factors of curiosity in UP embrace the Oblation statue, UP Vargas Museum, public artwork installations, road meals and road artwork. Seasonal sights embrace the hearth timber (summer time), sunflowers planted alongside the College Avenue throughout commencement season and the Lantern Parade (Christmas). Sadly, the UP Bike Trails, the 2 brief XC tracks close to the Faculty of Human Kinetics (CHK) which used to function a venue of varied races and bike occasions, has been changed into a baseball subject.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment: None
- Bikes for hire: None. Carry your personal. The campus has a Bikeshare system for his or her classic commuter bikes the place you possibly can join free (however I believe that is just for college students).
- Hours: The UP Diliman campus is open day-after-day 24/7. The educational oval is closed to motorized visitors on Sundays.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Stunning surroundings and pure environment, devoted bike lanes, bike parking, a lot of bike-friendly spots to eat
- The place to eat: There are a number of locations for bikers to eat or purchase meals contained in the UP Diliman campus together with Gyud Meals Hub and Mang Larry’s Isawan close to the Faculty of Wonderful Arts; Artwork Circle Cafe and ROC inside Bahay ng Alumni; Nomu Cafe, Rodic’s Diner, and Snack Shack throughout the Bahay ng Alumni; College Lodge which has a espresso store, bar and resto; plus the entire of JP Rizal Avenue, which is lined with budget-friendly eateries. You may also discover few meals parks and many restos within the close by Maginhawa space the place you possibly can carry your bikes.
Quezon Memorial Circle
The Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC is a nationwide park situated inside a big visitors circle referred to as the Elliptical Highway in Quezon Metropolis. QMC is thought primarily for the 66-meter tall mausoleum containing the stays of Manuel L. Quezon, the second official President of the Philippines, which is the principle landmark of town.
The QMC serves as the principle park of town, housing a shrine, museums, playgrounds, picnic cottages, and open areas for relaxation and recreation. The city park options a number of smaller gardens inside its grounds together with a flower backyard, a tropical backyard, and a demo city farm.
Except for being a refreshing place to jog, stroll and go biking and have picnics, QMC can be a fantastic place to purchase crops together with potted herbs, decorative crops, succulents, and different house gardening necessities. A brand new Elevated Panorama Promenade is presently being constructed to attach Quezon Memorial Shrine to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Heart, which is one thing to look ahead to.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment: None
- Bikes for hire: Bikes can be found for hire on the QMC bicycle station.
- Hours: Open from 5:00 am to eight:00 p,
- What makes it nice for bikers: Stress-free pure surroundings and environment. Bike ramps on stairs. To securely cross the street by bike, use the underpass from Quezon Metropolis Corridor which now has bike ramps. A number of benches and picnic tables to relaxation. Some bike-friendly restos.
- The place to eat: There are many meals stalls inside QC Circle together with CocoBistro (a resto that serves Coconut-based dishes and helps coconut farmers) and Simply Espresso, a brand new al fresco espresso store. You may also discover a couple of eating places together with Max’s, Aristocrat, Kamameshi Home, and Tropical Hut.
Marikina River Park
The Marikina River Park is a system of parks, trails & open areas alongside an 11-kilometer (6.8 mi) stretch of the Marikina River within the japanese a part of Metro Manila.
This city riverside park covers an space of 220 hectares (540 acres) operating by a number of villages. Because the principal walkways are closed off to motorized autos, this gives a secure and refreshing space to get some train and contemporary air.
Yow will discover a brief tree-shaded bike path right here with statues of various animals and recreations of iconic landmarks from across the nation. A pleasant addition to the realm (put up throughout Christmas 2019) is a set of 16 Mosaic Artwork shows of nature scenes constructed from supplies like glass tiles, bottle caps, stones, plastic bottles, foam bits, slippers, plastic clothespins & extra.
Nevertheless, as of April 2024, some sections of the Marikina Riverbanks had been broken by a storm whereas others are now not accessible on account of river dredging.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment: None
- Bikes for hire: Bikes can be found for hire on the Marikina Riverbanks space
- Hours: Open each day
- What makes it nice for bikers: Scenic riverside routes, bike lanes, a lot of bike-friendly cafes, public bike parking spots, pocket parks to relaxation
- The place to eat: There are a couple of picnic tables and cottages alongside the river banks and goto-type stalls alongside the river banks catering to bikers. Some notable eating places close by embrace Mama Chit’s, Sundays and Rustic Mornings close to the Marikina Footwear Museum. Different bike-friendly spots embrace Greg & Sally’s Tree Cafe and quite a few bike-friendly cafes across the aspect streets.
The Bike Playground at Circulo Verde
Hidden proper within the metropolis accessible by C-5 close to Eastwood and Libis is The Bike Playground in Circulo Verde. That is the nation’s first internationally-designed indoor bike park, which has a world-class pump monitor, a 1-km lengthy outside path and a child’s path.
The spotlight right here is the internationally designed pump monitor, constructed by Velosolutions headed by Swiss mountain biker Claudio Caluori. In contrast to different pump tracks, this one has a roof which makes it a superb biking vacation spot even within the wet season. The pump monitor is product of asphalt, giving tires extra traction.
The outside path could be very brief, however well-designed and gives a couple of twists, ramps and jumps for a fast path biking repair. Bikers can carry their very own mountain bikes appropriate for the path and pump monitor, however in addition they have bikes for hire. There’s a bathe room and lounge for bikers and many bike parking areas close to the eating places. Because the space is secluded, not a whole lot of automobiles move right here, making it secure for teenagers to bike on the street.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment: P100 per hour
- Bikes for hire: YES. Mountain bikes and pump monitor bikes can be found for hire at P500 for two hours, whereas kiddie bikes price P350 for two hours.
- Working hours: The Bike Playground is open from 7:00 AM to eight:00 PM Monday to Sunday.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Availability of motorbike rental, bathe room, lounge for bikers, bike parking close to eating places
- The place to eat: There are a number of locations for bikers to eat in Calle Industria inside the identical complicated together with McDonald’s, Chef & Brewer, Kambal Pandesal and Chill Prime Bar. Eastwood, Libis and the newly developed Bridgetown and Parklinks areas (which I’ve but to discover) are additionally very close to.
Intramuros, Manila
Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core in Manila, Philippines. It’s the one district of Manila the place you possibly can see outdated Spanish-era structure.
It’s additionally one of many few locations within the metro the place you possibly can truly hire bicycles and go on bike excursions. Plus, you get to make use of Bamboo Bicycles crafted by a social enterprise.
For first-timer international guests who need a fast tour of the historic sights within the metropolis, it is a good choice. The route is generally paved, however you’ll be biking by cobblestone streets and a few scenic areas like Fort Santiago, a well-maintained park, the Baroque San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral. As of 2024, higher bike lanes inside the space are being developed.
There’s a community of motorbike lanes and pedestrian walkways being constructed as a part of the Pasig River Esplanade, with scenic areas behind the Manila Central Submit Workplace and good lanes crossing Jones Bridge and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.
TIP: Bambike additionally gives Bamboo Bike Excursions in several components of town like Poblacion, BGC and gives bike leases in different places (Corregidor, Iloilo, Bohol, Baler, and many others.)
TRAVEL TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Bikes for hire: YES. P100 per Bambike per hour (no information)
- Bike Excursions: Intramuros Expertise, a 2.5 hour lengthy tour to go to 10 key websites (P1,200 per particular person). The value is inclusive of motorbike & helmet rental, bottled water and entrance charges. The Categorical Tour is a 1 hour tour the place you possibly can select your personal journey for P600 per particular person per hour
- Tour schedule: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm and three:00 pm – 5:30 pm.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Availability of motorbike leases, bike lanes, parks, lovely historic buildings serving as nice photograph backdrops, bridges, bike parking, bike equipment on the market on the Bambike HQ, some bike-friendly cafes
- The place to eat: There are a number of bike-friendly locations to eat in Intramuros together with Barbara’s, Cafe Intramuros and Batala Bar inside the Plaza San Luis Complicated close to the headquarters of Bambike. Different suggestions the place you possibly can park bikes safely embrace Ilustrado Restaurant, Belfry Cafe and Papa Kape inside Fort Santiago.
La Mesa Nature Reserve, Quezon Metropolis
La Mesa Watershed Nature Reserve is a forest reserve with multi-use trails situated northeast of Quezon Metropolis close to SM Metropolis Fairview. It surrounds the La Mesa Reservoir, which is the supply of a lot of the consuming water of Manila. Take be aware that that is totally different from La Mesa Eco Park.
NOTE: La Mesa Nature Reserve and Laa Mesa Eco Park are presently closed, however they’re set to reopen in June 2024 beneath the administration of MWSS.
Sometimes called the final remaining rainforest in Metro Manila, La Mesa Watershed Nature Reserve gives 52 kilometers of wonderful mountain single tracks, filth roads and firetracks all inside a dense forest. La Mesa gives nice trails for each novices and superior riders. It’s a fashionable venue for bike races and duathlons. Carry a hydration pack with path meals sufficient to final you for half a day for those who plan to bike right here..
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: P200 per particular person for a minimal group of 5 (or P1000 per group) plus P200 per extra rider. In case your group has fewer than 5 riders, you continue to must pay P1000. Reservations are required to bike right here.
- Bikes for hire: None. Carry your personal.
- Amenities: Bathroom, rescue autos, bike wash (P50.00)
- Hours: Open 6:00 a.m. to five:00 p.m. day-after-day apart from Christmas and New Yr. In addition they shut the place throughout occasions so name them first earlier than making any plans.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Stunning pure surroundings and stress-free environment, secure place to bike away from visitors
- The place to eat: There isn’t a place to eat inside La Mesa Nature Reserve, so carry your personal packed meals/snacks and drinks. Typically, roving distributors inside promote gentle snacks & drinks on the Kawayanan space.
- For inquiries, name Bantay Kalikasan at:(02)410.9670 (02)415.2272 loc 4551 (Bantay Kalikasan Head Workplace) or inquire straight with Mr. Mar Zeri Ramirez at 0926.6700320 or 0908.493 8239. For more information, go to: the Bantay Kalikasan web site.
Heroes Bike Path, Taguig
Nestled proper smack between C-5 and BGC is Heroes Path, a brief cross nation monitor situated inside a navy camp. It’s truly situated contained in the Libingan ng mga Bayani compound, a cemetery. In accordance with bikers who frequent the realm, it’s fairly well-maintained, low-cost and comparatively simple to get to for many who reside within the space.
The Heroes Path will be ridden by riders of all talent ranges – from Downhill riders to newbies. It’s a superb coaching floor for many who reside within the space and is used as a venue for biking occasions like Bike Demo Day.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment: P50 pesos (you possibly can experience all day)
- Bikes for hire: None. Carry your personal.
- Amenities: Restroom, bike parking, typically drinks and bike accessories are bought by distributors
- Hours: Open from 5:30 am 5:00 pm each day
- The place to eat: Typically distributors arrange meals stalls throughout bike occasions, however it’s greatest to carry your personal snacks or drinks.
C-6 Bike Lane, Taguig
The C-6 or Circumferential Highway-6 Bike Lane is a part of the Laguna Lake Freeway, a thoroughfare connecting Paranaque to the Metropolis of Taguig, Pasig, and the municipality of Taytay in Rizal. Whereas the principle freeway continues to be beneath building, there are some parts which might be already open to cyclists and runners together with a 3-meter huge bike lane and a 1.5 meter huge sidewalk.
It might be a few years earlier than the entire route turns into absolutely operational, however this lakeside route appears like a promising biking vacation spot and shortcut to the areas within the South like Alabang, Paranaque and Muntinlupa.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment: None
- Bikes for hire: None. Carry your personal.
- Amenities: Bike lane
Timberland Mountain Bike Park, Rizal
Mt. Maarat in Timberland Heights is also known as the mountain biking capital of the nation, providing a wide range of purpose-built mountain biking trails. Technically, it’s now not in Manila, however it’s close to sufficient for a day experience. The park reopened in 2024, launching 12 trails with various levels of problem—that includes single-track, drops, rollers, and berms.
This space in San Mateo, Rizal simply on the outskirts of town was once an everyday coaching floor for path runners, mountaineers, and mountain bikers. Bikers coming from the metro often handed by Marikina to entry the principle entrance of Timberland Heights.
Bikers who need to take a look at their endurance uphill can scale “The Wall”, a 2 kilometer-long paved street ascending as much as the gates of Timberland. There’s additionally “Shotgun”, a fair harder and longer climb which you could bike to free of charge. However you possibly can skip that and go on to the technical trails (which has a separate entrance payment) by bringing your mountain bikes up by automotive.
Pattern the paths full of fireside roads and singletracks on the Inexperienced Zone, Blue Zone and Black Diamond. Different factors of curiosity right here embrace the pine tree-lined avenue of the Roxas Primary Path, the Ten Commandments Statue in Mt. Sinai and the Sandugo BaseKamp Path and Pump Observe.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance payment:
None. No reservations required to bike at Timberland Heights. Simply depart your ID on the guardhouse.Beginning February 10, 2024, a day move now prices P550 per rider - Parking payment: P30.00 close to the Timberland Sports activities and Nature Membership. Free for those who park your autos earlier than heading up The Wall.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 7am to 4pm, with the final entry at 1pm.
- Bikes for hire: YES. Bike rental is out there on the Journey Farm in Timberland Heights for P100/head per hour inclusive of security gear, with an extra P50 for succeeding hours. I additionally was capable of borrow a Sandugo Brusko unit at BaseKamp Biker’s Pit Cease one time however most bikers carry their very own bikes.
- What makes it nice for riders: Fantastic nature trails, surroundings, presence of motorbike outlets and bike-friendly cafes. Bike equipment are typically bought alongside the street throughout weekends
- The place to eat: Aling Tina’s, All Terra Biking Store and Cafe, Marc’s Retailer, Bikers Cafe, Ka Vergel, Large Retailer, Camp Sandugo, Phillip’s Sanctuary, Pestano Farm and different smaller eateries.
Eastridge, Rizal
Beforehand, Antenna Hill was one other biking vacation spot in a city on the outskirts of town close to sufficient for a day journey. Situated in Tayuman, Binangonan, Rizal, getting up the hill concerned a really difficult ascent, however when you get to the highest, you possibly can take pleasure in steep tracks and drops that are fashionable with downhill riders.
Except for the downhill bike trails, this biking vacation spot had a whole lot of bonus areas you possibly can discover together with a Thunder Path.
Whereas I’m not sure if these trails are nonetheless accessible as of 2024, you possibly can nonetheless go to the historic Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs and take a tour of the artwork galleries and eating places in Angono.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: None.
- Bikes for hire: None. Carry your personal.
- NOTE: Since it is a non-public subdivision, you’ll want to depart an ID on the gate to get in.
- The place to eat: Lots of new cafes have popped up within the space together with ArtSector Gallery and Cafe, Espresso Rush and Cafe Giya. Different choices embrace Nemiranda Artwork Home and Balaw-Balaw Unique Restaraunt in Angono (earlier than heading as much as Eastridge)
Rodriguez, Rizal
Although Tanay in Rizal gives extra scenic and delightful biking locations, it will possibly take some time to bike all the way in which there.
For individuals who have restricted time or need one thing nearer (for a half-day biking journey), there’s Rodriguez (previously referred to as Montalban), the northernmost city of the neighboring province of Rizal. It’s comparatively close to town, however brings you near a surprisingly scenic view of mountains.
One of many fashionable vacationer spots you possibly can bike to is Wawa Dam, a gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River located within the 360-meter excessive Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water hole within the Sierra Madre Mountains, simply east of Manila. The rocky river dam is a well-liked vacation spot for swimming, mountain biking and climbing.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: None
- Bikes for hire: None. Carry your personal.
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- The place to eat: There are many small eateries close by, however don’t count on something fancy. Wawa is a well-liked spot for picnics amongst locals who often carry their very own meals.
Nuvali, Laguna
Nuvali is a 2,290 hectare master-planned residential, business and leisure improvement complicated situated in Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Laguna. Nuvali has a superb community of paved roads and designated bike paths that supply a whole lot of alternatives for leisurely street biking.
Beforehand, it supplied an in depth bike tracks and a path system, which included roughly 50 km of off-road biking and operating trails. Sadly, as of April 2024, a few of the mountain bike trails are now not accessible on account of new developments within the space.
Nuvali was once the venue for Nuvali Grime Weekend, one of many largest and most anticipated mountain biking occasions within the nation. On common days, bikers who carry their very own mountain bikes can take pleasure in going across the flowy singletrack and scenic cross-country driving with contemporary air and nice views.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: Free for many who carry their very own bikes.
- Bikes for hire: Highway bikes can be found for hire for P60/hour. You might want to current a legitimate ID and signal a waiver earlier than renting street bikes in Nuvali. Bikers must put on helmets (offered) always. Put on correct closed footwear (sandals and slippers aren’t allowed).
- Amenities: Bike parking, bike trails, pump monitor (particular occasions solely)
- Hours: Open each day from Monday to Sunday 8:00 am to five:00 pm
- The place to eat: There are many locations to eat in Nuvali from quick meals joints to high-quality eating restos.
Different Bike Trails / Locations in and close to Manila
- Camp Aguinaldo Bike Path – closed
- Bathala Bike Park – closed
- Fort Bonifacio Military MTB Path
- Filinvest Bike Path in Alabang, Muntinlupa
- Vermosa Expertise Bike Park, Daang Hari, Cavite
- Twin Lakes Mountain Bike Path, Tagaytay
NOTE: Extra pictures from Exterior Slacker. Try his web page for extra biking sources.
