EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE LANES TO EASE TRAFFIC FLOW, QUESTIONABLE

Congested traffic in Metro Manila (Photo courtesy of Nino Jesus Orbeta/Inquirer)

The Department of Transportation is studying the placement of exclusive motorcycle lanes on EDSA, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that there is a preliminary discussion with the MMDA to turn the line adjacent to the bicycle lane into a motorcycle lane.

It is estimated that up to 170,000 motorcycles pass through EDSA every day, this aims to ease the flow of traffic in EDSA especially since motorcycles pass through almost all lanes. The first thing that came out of the study is that almost P5 billion is lost in the country's economy every day due to traffic.

It is said that the dedicated motorcycle lane plan on the main roads in Metro Manila still needs to be carefully studied. In an interview, Motorcycle Federation of the Philippines President Atoy Sta Cruz said that there are congested roads like EDSA that cause traffic even with motorcycle lanes.

He said it is better to promote the use of new infrastructure such as the bridge, even taking an alternative route.

"The question is how big the motorcycle lane will be? Because the number of motorcycles today is 7.5 million in the whole Philippines. When you come to a small area, there is traffic, 4 wheels are allowed in, that's why we say study well," Atoy stated. 

Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay questioned the proposal pointing out that accurate data and fact-based studies are needed not “mere experiments” to solve the unending traffic in Metro Manila.

Binay stated that people should not dwell on policies that will only diverge from mass transit solutions like short term solutions, alternative rides exist because the public infrastructures failed to address urban mobility challenges.

Poe on the other hand, the proposal will cause further confusion in an already chaotic roads, that’s why independent fact-based and institute standards are needed for the designation of motorcycle lanes.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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