Car-centric Cebu City

The reason people in government are so obsessed with traffic congestion is an inner frame of mind and a planning philosophy which is characterized as “car-centric.” Government officials, and even ordinary people alike, will vehemently deny this but both words and actions will readily reveal this deep-seated internal sentiment of being car-centric. Surprisingly, these include people who don’t even own or ride cars regularly. And people don’t realize that this world view, if I may call it that, started only in the 1920’s and was non-existent in the thousands of years of the world’s history.

It’s quite easy to diagnose. Every day, traffic congestion is getting worse. Everywhere! All over the world! It’s because more vehicles are added to the existing roads which are likewise increasing in number, length, and space, too, though at a slower pace. So, what causes “traffic?” If all the people who ride cars use public transportation, our roads will be very spacious, but if all the people who take public transport will shift to cars, traffic will be at a standstill. So, what/who causes traffic congestion? Car people will grumble, disagree, and hate the truth, but the truth is the truth.

In fact, if you look at all the transport and mobility plans all over the world, they have one goal in common --improve public transportation and minimize car use. At least, that’s how transport and mobility scientists plan and advocate. Public officials, too, sometimes parrot these populist views. But actions speak louder than words, and public utterances always reveal the prevailing car-centric ideologies. And public spending will readily show where their heart is --in worship of the car! Almost all public spending on transportation is geared towards “the car”. Especially the humongous news-headline hugging ones, the latest being that rotunda at the SRP. Guess which mode will benefit? Mostly private cars.

The Cebu City Council did have the right frame of mind when it passed Res. No. 08-1430, 14 years ago, on Dec. 10, 2008. How’s this for one of the noblest, people-minded statements I ever came across: “To declare as policy direction of the City of Government of Cebu, the establishment of a Public Mass Transport System in the City of Cebu as the primary mode of transportation in the City, which shall incorporate, as a matter of transport policy, the regulation and control of the proliferation of unnecessary and unwanted car use in the city streets, and the provision of pedestrian and bicycle walkways and other infrastructure for non-motorized transport, in order to provide equal, democratic, and inclusive urban mobility for all.” Wow! But look where we are now. Car-centric as ever! We’re even planning to craft a Traffic Master Plan!

A statement attributed to Fred Kent says, “If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places.” Now we’re making a Traffic Master Plan. So, we better expect more traffic in the future. Car-centric thinking will result in car-centric ideas and plans and ultimately will shape into a car-centric city. Welcome to Cebu City --a car-centric city par excellence.