Move People, Not Cars A case study how cycling can contribute to sustainable development in Metro Manila Margot Daris, MSc Master Thesis Human Geography Specialization: Conflicts, Territories and Identities Supervisor: Prof. dr. H.J. van Houtum Cover page source: private collection of writer. The picture is taken in Iloilo City during the ThinkBike workshop with the Dutch Cycling Embassy, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Philippines and local stakeholders. II Abstract The United Nations translated the Mondial need for sustainable development to combat climate change into the Sustainable Development Goals. These are a blueprint to achieve a better and sustainable future for all. This thesis is focused on the increase of the use of bicycles to achieve the SDGs. Cycling has many benefits for health, the environment, the livability of cities, gender equality and much more. The benefits of bike commuting for achieving the SDGs are analyzed according to hardware, software and orgware components of cycling. Metro Manila is the most congested city in Asia and is therefore the main case in this study. However, the results can be beneficial for other Asian cities as well. Keywords: Cycling, Sustainable Development Goals, Metro Manila, Climate Change III Preface In front of you lies my thesis ‘Move People, Not Cars’. I have written this thesis to complete the master Human Geography with a specialization in Conflicts, Territories and Identities at the Radboud University in Nijmegen. During my internship at the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines, I have developed a great interest in sustainable mobility. At the embassy, we have worked on several cycle-related events which sparked my interest for the relation between cycling and sustainability. The process of writing this thesis has been very interesting and has taught me so much. For my internship at the embassy, I have lived in the Philippines for seven months. It has been a pleasure to get to know how friendly, helpful and funny Filipinos are. I would like to thank all the interview participants for providing me with all your knowledge and insights. This study would not have been possible without all of your help. I am especially thankful to Myles Delfin for introducing me to so many BikeScouts, and to Aldrin Pelicano who followed the embassy team to Iloilo City and also for introducing me to many cycle advocates. Thereby, I would like to thank Kevin Punzalan, my supervisor at the embassy. Kevin was always ready to discuss ideas, motivate me and provide me with feedback. Furthermore, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor Henk van Houtum for always believing in this thesis. After each conversation we have had about cycling, I became more enthusiastic than I already was. Thereby, many thanks to Edward Douma from the Dutch Cycling Embassy who has supported this study from day one and who has given me tons of information. This project would also not have been possible without my colleagues Karina van Hoek and Jordana Hiltrop. Thank you for all your help and kindness – professionally and personally. Finally, I want to thank my boyfriend Koen for moving across the world with me. Salamat po! Margot Daris Nijmegen, June 2020 IV Index Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ III Preface ......................................................................................................................................................... IV List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. VII List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. VIII 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Research Objective and Research Questions ....................................................................................... 2 1.2 Scientific Relevance ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Societal Relevance ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Outline .................................................................................................................................. 5 2. Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Climate Change Mitigation ............................................................................................................. 7 2.1.2 Sustainable Development Goals ...................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Cycling as a Way of Transportation .................................................................................................. 11 2.2.1 Hardware ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Software ........................................................................................................................................ 14 2.4.3 Orgware ......................................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 City Congestion .................................................................................................................................. 21 2.4 Conceptual Structure ......................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 3: Data and Methods ..................................................................................................................... 26 3.1 Research Approach ............................................................................................................................ 26 3.2 Case Selection .................................................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Data Approach ................................................................................................................................... 29 3.3.1 Interviews ...................................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.2 Documentations ............................................................................................................................ 35 3.3.3 Direct Observations ....................................................................................................................... 35 3.4 Research Methods .............................................................................................................................. 36 Chapter 4: Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 38 4.1 Hardware and Sustainability ............................................................................................................. 38 4.1.1 Current Infrastructure .................................................................................................................... 38 4.1.2 Infrastructure Improvements ......................................................................................................... 46 4.1.3 Bike Sharing .................................................................................................................................. 49 4.1.4 End of Trip Facilities .................................................................................................................... 50 4.2 Software and Sustainability ............................................................................................................... 51 4.2.1 Filipino Mindset ............................................................................................................................ 51 4.2.2 Influence of the Weather ............................................................................................................... 53 4.2.3 Education Possibilities .................................................................................................................. 53 4.2.4 Communication and Promotion .................................................................................................... 54 4.2.5 Bike Safety .................................................................................................................................... 56 4.2.6 Private Sphere ............................................................................................................................... 57 V 4.3 Orgware and Sustainability ............................................................................................................... 58 4.3.1 Policy ...........................................................................................................................................