Trikes to be banned from plying major roads in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines – To decongest its clogged streets, Mandaue City wants to keep tricycles from plying the major thoroughfares like the M.L. Quezon road.

"The mayor told us to get rid (of the tricycles). They may be deployed sa eskina sa Greenhills (where they will wait for PUJs going to M.L. Quezon)," city planning and development coordinator Florentino Nimor said.

Nimor said the passenger tricycles are one of the causes of road congestion, especially that they don't follow the designated loading and unloading bays, apart from they are slow-moving.

The plan to get rid of the trikes came after a mother and child, who were about to cross the street, were hit by a 10-wheeler truck on the said road early this month.

Nimor said M.L. Quezon national highway is a busy street, yet most of the time, the vehicular movement is slow due to cars and passengers who don't follow traffic rules.

And to further safeguard the people and the vehicles from accidents, he said they will recommend to the Department of Public Works and Highways "to add engineering measures in the area" such as barriers at the center line, where vehicles make U-turns.

He said there are traffic enforcers there yet pedestrians still cross just anywhere, which can result to accidents.

He then urged the public to use the designated pedestrian crossing.

On their part, he said they will install closed-circuit television cameras there so they can watch the whole situation from their Command Center. (FREEMAN)