At least 1,000 cyclists joined the 280-kilometer bike caravan around deteriorating Laguna de Bay Saturday in an effort to rally the public into saving the country’s largest lake.

The bikers were members of 20 cycling clubs from Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal and Quezon provinces. They will go around 30 towns and cities during the two-day event.

The caravan’s first leg, a 60-km ride, began in Market! Market! in Taguig City at 6 a.m. Saturday.

The bikers traversed the Manuel L. Quezon Road, and passed through the congested western side of the lake through Taguig, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Biñan, San Pedro, Sta. Rosa, Calamba, and Los Banos.

A halfway pit-stop will be at the SM mall in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

On the early morning of Sunday, the bikers will shuttle back to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) office in Calauan to start the 141-km leg toward the eastern side of the lake.

The caravan will pass through the Laguna towns of Pagsanjan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete, and Mabitac, crossing the provincial boundary to Rizal's Jala-Jala, Baras, and Kalayaan. The final leg will end Sunday afternoon in Taytay, Rizal.

Along the way, the bikers hope to inspire local residents to act and save the country’s largest lake from further degradation.

LLDA General Manager Edgardo Manda said the 900-square meter Laguna de Bay has reached its tipping point, and its watershed is almost denuded and wasted.

With more rains expected starting next month, Manda also said the LLDA and the Rotary Club of Makati Central will lead the planting of the fast-growing bamboo to prevent flooding.