MANILA, Philippines — Transport advocacy groups have questioned the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) figures on the number of bicycle users along EDSA, citing a significant gap between official estimates and independent counts. The Move As One Coalition, in a statement released Wednesday evening, disputed the MMDA’s claim that only around 1,700 cyclists use EDSA daily. The figure was cited during the agency’s launch of free end-of-trip shower facilities in Pasig City on Tuesday, March 17. The group said a more comprehensive bike count conducted in 2024 recorded over 7,000 cyclists along key sections of EDSA within just four hours. The count was carried out by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, MNL Moves, 350 Pilipinas, and Pinay Bike Commuter across monitoring points in Quezon City, Mandaluyong, and San Juan. Celine Tabinga of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities said the data highlights a clear disparity in how cyclist volume is being measured along the major thoroughfare. The coalition said the discrepancy raises concerns about the use of incomplete data in shaping transport policies, particularly those affecting bike lane infrastructure and road safety. It added that with rising fuel prices, more Filipinos are expected to shift to bicycles, making accurate data on bike usage critical for planning safe and inclusive road systems. The group also pointed to the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which states that pedestrians and cyclists should be given the highest priority in the hierarchy of road users. The coalition reiterated that any move to reduce or remove bike lanes along EDSA would contradict national efforts to promote active transport as part of addressing the country’s transportation challenges. The Manila Times has reached out to the MMDA for comment but had yet to receive a response as of posting time.