In search of ways to ease EDSA traffic

Right on top of that long bridge linking Pasig City and the peripheral towns of Rizal, in front of one big mall, it is not difficult to note the presence of several public utility vehicle stops complete with waiting sheds where jeepneys and buses converge to pick up commuters.

Having several bus stops right on a single bridge is something that can be found only in the Philippines. Not only is the presence of all this commuter traffic causing a lot of grief for other motorists, it is also unsafe because a bridge should ideally be free-flowing.

Yes, much of Metro Manila’s traffic problems are a function of poor management by local government officials and the Metro Manila Development Authority, and of enacting regulations that inadvertently cause more problems.

Favorite topic

The metro’s traffic mess is now one of my favorite topics, and apparently is also a cause of concern by many of our readers. One of them, who we will call Vin, has written a rather lengthy correspondence about his views. Please read on.

“I would like to share some of my observations and my suggested solutions regarding the traffic situation on EDSA.

“I travel the whole length of EDSA end to end almost every day. Based on my observation, heavy traffic is caused mainly by choke points. These choke points are what they are because of public buses and jeepneys (public utility vehicles or PUVS) picking up and dropping passengers everywhere and anywhere while waiting in between.

“These choke points are mostly underneath MRT stations both north and southbound but there are a few exemptions like Munoz intersection and the Balintawak wet market where passengers treat the outermost lanes as their PUV stops or parking lot. 

“There are 13 MRT stations along the whole stretch of EDSA.  That’s 13 choke points at the minimum.

Causes

“The following observation, I think, is the main reason for our daily traffic:

“First, while travelling towards an overpass/underpass, the PUVs will use their designated yellow lanes on the outermost lane to pick up and/or drop passengers and then swerve at the last minute to get to the overpass (e.g., GMA station) or underpass (e.g., Starmall).

“This is akin to a line in a fast food restaurant during lunch hours wherein the PUVs will cut in front of the line to get their order first while everyone behind just looks on and accepts it.

Shockwave effect

“Second, along the whole stretch of EDSA, PUVs often use the private vehicle lanes to overtake another PUV. When they overtake another PUV, they sneak out of the yellow lane, which temporarily but effectively stops the flow of private vehicles on that lane. Then, they cut in front of other PUVs on the yellow lane while their tail is still sticking out on the private lane causing the traffic flow to stop again.

“Some of the private vehicles will stop to allow the PUVs to cut in while others simply cut to their left forcing the car beside them to stop and let them pass, which creates a domino effect. Because of that, they cause what is known as a “shockwave effect” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suugn-p5C1M).

“The five-second delay the PUVs cause by going out of the yellow lane alone probably equates to five minutes or more of delay, affecting vehicles one kilometer down the line. And that is just one PUV. Imagine 3,500-plus of them doing it 100 times a day or more, and combine that with the choke points mentioned in the beginning.

Ideal

“Ideally, the PUVs should just stay on the yellow lane to pick up or drop passengers and should not be allowed to use the private lane even for overtaking. Unfortunately, they don’t.

“With the passage of the minimum wage for drivers, there is no reason for them to overtake one another to compete for passengers. Unless there is the offer of bonuses to entice the spirit of competition or the threat of dismissal should they not reach their targets resulting in the wanton abandon of the effects of their actions. 

No enforcement of the law

“Part of the reason PUVs do those mentioned above is because they can. There is no enforcement of the law. The drivers of these PUVs are not stupid. They might be uneducated, but they are not stupid. They know what they are doing and the effects of it. They simply do not care as money comes first.

“Law enforcers will probably say they are undermanned with the whole of EDSA stretching 23 kilometers. But not according to my observation. I usually see people in uniform around choke points turning a blind eye. Either that, or they are afraid of the PUV drivers. I think there is a great possibility of a mutual and beneficial agreement between the two.

Solution

“My proposed solution to prevent this kind of collusion has already been implemented since 2011 but for a different purpose. MMDA required all PUVs to have their plate numbers painted on the sides and roof tops to make it easier for them to track and identify colorum PUVs. 

“I suggest MMDA to also use this ability to track and identify these PUVs that break the minor law of swerving, obstruction of traffic, overtaking outside yellow lane, and illegal loading/unloading etc.

“MMDA should install CCTV around choke points and impose fines and penalties to those who break the law. The fines should be painful enough on the pockets of the PUVs’ operators, that violating traffic laws becomes costly.

“Just because there are passengers waiting under MRT stations does not mean PUVs have to pick them up, nor are they obligated to drop them off wherever they want. Once PUVs obey the law, the passengers will follow. 

“I believe once they use the suggested form of monitoring and penalizing, the traffic flow will immediately and significantly improve. Who knows, the MMDA might even reach their revenue target quicker.”

If the bright boys of MMDA are still cracking their heads for good ideas, maybe the above is something to be considered. Other ideas from concerned readers will be featured in succeeding columns. Sooner or later we should be able to find suitable solutions. If there is a will, there is a way, more so from frustrated, long-suffering motorists.

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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.