LONG before Antipolo’s morning traffic woke up, nearly a hundred cyclists were already carving through its misty hills—chasing views, endorphins, and unknowingly becoming part of McDonald’s bid to turn everyday rides into a nationwide push for greener, more bike-friendly cities.
Recently, Antipolo City played host to the first-ever Tour de McDo in Rizal, a 25-kilometer community ride held in celebration of National Bike Day and designed to champion sustainable, active mobility. The sunrise ride gathered cycling groups, weekend warriors, and everyday commuters, all eager to explore the rolling terrain of Rizal while rallying behind a growing movement: making Philippine cities easier and safer to navigate on two wheels.
The event began and ended at McDonald’s Mambugan, one of the brand’s nine Green and Good flagship stores nationwide. These branches serve as testbeds for McDonald’s sustainability initiatives, featuring solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, LED lighting, motion sensors, and energy-efficient cooling. Outside, cyclists find what has become a signature element of the program: Bike & Dine stations that offer secure parking, repair kits, and a dedicated space to rest over a McDo meal.
Beyond Mambugan, Green and Good branches now span Manila, Mandaluyong, Tagaytay, Sta. Rosa, Quezon City, Tarlac, Cebu, and Davao—each one signaling McDonald’s intent to weave active mobility into its customer experience wherever possible.
For the Rizal leg, organizers mapped a route that wound through Antipolo’s lush ridges and urban pockets, passing scenic cliffside views and local landmarks. Cyclists who missed the event can still take the same ride by accessing the route on Strava, where McDonald’s uploaded the official map.
Tour de McDo Rizal capped a busy year for the program, following earlier rides in Baguio and Makati. All three form part of the larger Ride the Arches initiative, launched in 2023 as the world’s first campaign inviting Filipinos to bike from one Golden Arch to another. It has since grown into an award-winning model for community-based cycling advocacy.
“Tour de McDo is meeting people where their passions already are,” said Denise Barrameda, McDonald’s Corporate Communications Senior Manager. “Filipinos love to ride. They care about health and the environment. As we open more Green and Good stores, we aim to build this into a wider, more inclusive movement that brings those values together.”
Riders at the Rizal event were treated to a post-ride meal featuring McDonald’s Golden Chicken Curry with Egg, plus an exclusive Green and Good shirt. A raffle gave away gift certificates and Be Our Guest cards. Many also stopped by the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) booth, where pairs of RMHC socks were sold to raise funds for Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers, which support early childhood education in underserved communities.
For the riders who started their morning high above Metro Manila, the Tour de McDo was more than a fun ride. It was a small but purposeful push toward reimagining the Philippines as a place where cycling isn’t just a sport, but a shared path to healthier, greener cities.