“Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, bisikleta ang kailangan! (For the nation to prosper, the bicycle is the answer).” This was the oft-(mis)quoted line attributed to a popular ‘70s TV host during the heydays of the Martial Law era. Of course, that host denied ever saying that, and no official records point to the personality ever being accosted and punished by the late dictator by being made to ride the bicycle around the Metro in the heat of the noonday sun.
Whether it be true or not, I do feel that that line has become applicable to our traffic situation today. After witnessing (and suffering first-hand) the pre-pandemic Christmas “carmageddon” back with a vengeance this 2022 Holiday season, I’ve made my own version of that quote: “Sa trapiko na walang galawan, bisikleta ang kailangan! (For standstill traffic, the bicycle is your best pick!)”
Looking at the bigger picture, the humble bicycle has become the modern metaphor for the paradigm-shifting events of 1986, when millions of people converged on Edsa to force a change in national leadership. Now, 37 years later, it’s the car that has become the energy-sapping, time-consuming dictator in an already overly congested megalopolis. You’re virtually a prisoner of traffic. When you need to be someplace at a certain time in Metro Manila, your fate is not in your hands; it’s in the traffic situation, and the primary determinant of traffic in our cities are the 4-wheelers and up.
Some smart alecks will respond, “Well, if you can’t ride anything, you can always walk.” Sure. Try telling that to someone in Makati who needs to be in Cubao in 30 minutes. If someone does spew that on you, retort with, “How about lending me a bicycle?”
But seriously, pedaling IS the solution. Not only that, it’s liberating and empowering. If you’re a cyclist, you feel it every time you buzz by motorists stuck in traffic, every time you arrive at your destination on the dot, according to the schedule you yourself set, every time you pass by a gas station, knowing you’ll never be spending your hard-earned money in that place (well, except if you’re buying hydration products from their convenience stores).
As I wrote at the start of this year, more than being just a practical and safe solution to a persistent pandemic, the bicycle has become a statement of “revolt,” a form of “rebellion” against things that hold us back. It turns out, someone else from another side of the planet echoes my sentiment. Environmentalist and cyclist Sunil Acharya wrote in recordnepal.com: “Riding a bicycle, despite all the difficulties posed by the system, is an act of rebellion. It helps demand mobility justice without shouting slogans. As the Dutch bicycle promotor James Crossley said, ‘You don’t need to be at a protest to be protesting as an urban cyclist.”’
Cycling for personal empowerment and making “quiet” statements is well and good. But when cycling becomes mainstream, that’s when the magic of socioeconomic transformation begins. I was glad that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) fast-tracked the bicycle lane development at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Personally, that move was long overdue, but better late than never. I am a bit concerned that, lately, bike lanes have either faded or have been “eaten” up by motorists (understandably so because of the horrendous traffic jams).
What has gotten my hopes up for the cycling movement is the news that the MMDA is seriously looking into putting up an elevated walkway and bikeway along Metro Manila’s busiest and most important thoroughfare.
MMDA Chair, lawyer Romando Artes, during a recent interview over at AM news radio DZBB, disclosed that daily traffic volume along Edsa had already breached 430,000 vehicles, with choke points encountered along malls. He added that vehicle speed along Edsa was averaging 16 kph—slightly faster compared to the pre-pandemic 11 kph.
Artes cited Edsa figures because the highway has historically been the benchmark, the “barometer” for the general traffic situation in the megalopolis. “Kung ano ang bigat ng traffic sa Edsa, nagrereflect rin po sa ibang mga lansangan, even secondary roads (The traffic on Edsa reflects the traffic situation in other roads),” Artes explained.
Asked how the traffic situation can be improved on Edsa, Artes revealed an ongoing study MMDA is conducting, in collaboration with other agencies and LGUs, that aim to identify the problems and sort out practicable solutions. The main problem, of course, is the sheer volume of vehicles. “Over na sa carrying capacity ng lansangan. Hindi na makahabol ng infrastructure na kailangan para mas mapaluwag ang traffic (the infrastructure cannot keep up with the volume of vehicles on the road),” he observed.
The main solution has always been the improvement of mass transportation so people would no longer have to bring cars.
Of course, we all know that by now. What made the interview session more interesting was when Artes revealed that the MMDA was also mulling over building an elevated walkway and bikeway along Edsa.
He described the elevated walkway/bikeway as both southbound and northbound, but occupying only one side of Edsa. “Our proposal, since the sidewalks between Guadalupe in Makati and Cubao in Quezon City are wide, the project can start from there. Kasi ang foundation niyan ay mapapalagay sa sidewalk na hindi naman po natin kakailanganin kung nasa taas na yung mga maglalakad (the elevated way’s foundation will be built on the sidewalk, as pedestrians will no longer need to use the sidewalk since there will already be an elevated walkway).”
The foundation and the elevated walkway will be built using cement and steel, which will be mostly fabricated offsite and then installed. Railings will be put in, too, for safety.
“We envision solar panels that will power electric fans, to make it convenient (for pedestrians and cyclists). They will be encouraged (to use the walkway/bikeway), especially commuters who will just be commuting from one station to the next. Instead of lining up at the bus station or MRT, they will just have to bike or walk,” said Artes.
But would it be feasible to put up this elevated walkway/bikeway along the entire stretch of Edsa? Artes said that there are infrastructure challenges along the way: Some sidewalks are too narrow for foundations to be built on, particularly along the intersection of Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) in Makati City.
As for the budget allocation for the initial phase of the elevated ways, Artes at the time couldn’t recall the cost estimate. However, if the elevated walkway and bikeway does become operational, the existing bike lane along Edsa could then be made part of the motorcycle lane.
So, let’s keep our fingers crossed that MMDA expedites this elevated walkway/bikeway project. Even if you’re not a cyclist or bike-commuter, you can help lobby the government to make this proposal a reality. We’ll take the literal higher ground so your car can move a bit more, too.
