MMDA: Go for it!

Go For It! The Metro Manila Development Authority or MMDA recently announced their plans to rationalize the motorcycle lane on EDSA by assigning a dedicated 2-meter wide lane strictly for motorcycles. What’s new in the plan is that the motorcycles will no longer have to be in the middle of all the cars using EDSA and won’t have to share lanes with cars. Even better is the adjustment where the Motorcycle Lane will now be next to the Bus Lane or right next to the Yellow Lane. The ONLY thing missing from the plan and the announcement was the idea or suggestion that small concrete barriers would be used to prevent buses from crossing over or cutting into the Motorcycle Lane.

The MMDA had more than enough supply of the low or small concrete barriers used during the time of Francis Tolentino. Those small concrete barriers are just like the barriers often used in car parks to prevent drivers from hitting other cars or going in too deep in the lot. The MMDA should try out the idea of placing those small concrete barriers to protect and prevent vehicles from “Trespassing” into other lanes. There is no better way to convince motorists and “Bikers” than to set up the system and show that it works. Once this idea works the next thing to do is to designate the “fast lane” on EDSA as the pass thru lane for drivers going from point to point. There won’t be any need for a “HOV Lane” or High Occupancy Vehicle Lane if the MMDA can actually get cars through faster.

This column fully supports this recent move of the MMDA because the ideas being introduced is now based on suggestions and consultations made by the MMDA leadership with motorists and motoring journalists. We encourage our readers to help the MMDA move these proposals one step at a time. We also call on our friends in Media particularly in Broadcast to study the plan, the logic and not just harvest “reactions” from uninformed citizens or naysayers who often dwell on the negative or simply give a critique because they’re on TV! If we are to air opinions, let’s air informed or well studied opinion.

*      *      *

In spite of numerous appeals and mentions in this space, it seems that the officials in Taguig City, particularly the Traffic Bureau remain DEAF to requests and appeals for them to monitor, regulate and place barriers to separate vehicles exiting C5 and going into the service road towards Taguig City. Time and again, jeepneys and undisciplined drivers go beyond the two lanes and end up blocking vehicles southbound on C5. If the head of the Taguig City traffic office does not want or does not have enough personnel, then they should use concrete barriers to prevent drivers from blocking the C5 just to cut into the service road. Are the mayor and her officials too busy to give a damn about the inconvenience and obstruction they are creating?  Since the Taguig officials refuse or won’t do anything about the problem, can someone from the MMDA do something about it?

*      *      *

They’re back and it seems that they’re not afraid of the MMDA enforcers if they ever show up! Yes, the people creating huge traffic jams at the Balintawak Market are back and they are back in numbers. Many motorists and travellers coming out of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) have been complaining particularly on Sundays because of long delays caused by illegally parked vehicles occupying at least two lanes on EDSA. Once the sun sets, the siege begins and one or two MMDA enforcers blowing their lungs out with their whistles are beginning to look more like ceremonial enforcers than anything.

I for one saw how cars were backed up and was redirected by WAZE to exit at Mindanao Avenue to avoid Balintawak Market. That was not much help either because Jeepneys and tricycles were also blocking most of Mindanao Avenue by creating four lane cues for two lane U-Turn slots!!! I don’t know how efficient the MMDA monitoring is but the U-Turn slots are a good idea that are poorly implemented and managed. I would even dare suspect that the reason motorists especially jeepney and tricycle drivers are allowed to jump the cue or cut their own lanes is connected to corruption that some MMDA officials have openly lamented. I have come to the realization that traffic in Metro Manila is genuinely man-made and not merely volume generated or caused by engineering. I know of a company that pays P15,000 a month just so their customers can “stand-by” or be “Waiting” on the main road. How many more companies, tricycle TODAs and Jeepney Cooperatives could be doing the same so they can operate without regulation? 

*      *      *

While many local governments are busy ripping up roads for repaving and digging up drainage canals where it never floods, it seems that many of them overlook inner roads or alternative roads. In the City of Mandaluyong, there is a little known road called Williams Street and it has become an alternative route for vehicles going around Pioneer – Williams – Sheridan – Reliance loop. In the last six months I have seen how container vans and trucks have blocked the route and their heavy cargo regularly created craters. Because of the impact on their guests and employees, it seems that the United Laboratories people have taken it upon themselves to fill potholes with concrete from time to time in the stretch of road between Pioneer and Sheridan, which is approximately 150 meters long. Considering how much money UniLab, Blims, and other companies’ pay, you would think that the City of Mandaluyong would graciously pave the road and make sure trucks and trailers don’t block the road. Ironically the other side of Williams where a new commercial district is going up, the road is brand spanking new and well paved! I hope the folks at Mandaluyong would do something about this VERY UNFAIR treatment.