10th Iloilo Bike Fest to draw thousands

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Dubbed the “Bike Capital of the Philippines,” Iloilo City is gearing up to welcome thousands of cyclists from across the country for the highly anticipated 10th Iloilo Bike Festival.

Scheduled from July 20-28, the event promises a vibrant celebration of cycling culture, drawing participants to the heart of the “City of Love.”

This year’s festival, themed “Cycle for Change: Celebrating 10 Years of Cycling Culture,” will be hosted in collaboration with Megaworld Iloilo Business Park.

The event underscores Iloilo City’s commitment to promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle through a series of engaging activities aimed at cyclists of all ages and skill levels.

Since its inception in 2014, the annual Iloilo Bike Festival has championed the health and safety of cyclists, making significant strides in transforming Iloilo into a bike-friendly city.

“We at Festive Walk Iloilo are honored to be part of the celebration, where we can showcase our township’s bike-friendly roads in support of a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle,” said Festive Walk Iloilo General Manager Karmela Jesena.

Jesena emphasized the importance of providing infrastructure like bike lanes and amenities to support the initiative.

Wilfredo Sy Jr., the Iloilo Bike Festival Director, shared exciting plans for the event, including the development of an official website for registrations and attendee information.

“There will also be simulations to anticipate what to expect in this big event and to identify the main points that need improvement,” he added.

Organized by the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI), the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) Center, various bike groups, and other stakeholders, the festival promises an array of activities to engage participants.

Highlights include the Bilang Siklista: Manual Bicycle Count, Car Free Day, Cineskilista, Spin Tutors: Bike Clinic, Double Century Ride, Ambitious Bike Race, Cyclopedia, Gears and Beers Bikers Tambayan, and many more. Other activities include a Guinness World Record Attempt for Human Bike Formation, Tour De Iloilo, Mega Criterium Race, and the Bikes and Music Xperience (BMX).

The festival not only celebrates the joy of cycling but also supports Iloilo City’s development into a healthy, highly-urbanized environment. It promotes biking as an alternative mode of transportation and a potential socio-economic activity.