The Elevated U-turn

I apologize. Before I even begin this column, I already apologize. I apologize for shaking up the proverbial hornet’s nest. The last time I wrote about U-turns, I caused quite a stir, with many a backseat driver agreeing with my opinions and a handful all but wishing me eternal damnation for criticizing our well-meaning but stubbornly iron-fisted Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman whose face adorns pink streamers as far as Bohol (What the %#@&#$*?!).

Well, paint me stubborn too because I’m not about ready to stop. Why, you ask? Because I have just come back from Thailand, where the idea of the elevated U-turn has been transformed to an art form. And because I live just a stone’s throw away from the pathetic attempt to duplicate it here in the Philippines, and am severely affected by it on a deeply personal level (I have been literally trapped inside my village by the monstrous traffic jams created by it).

First things first. Let’s ask ourselves why there is even such a thing as an elevated U-turn being constructed at the C-5 intersection that divides Pasig, Taguig and Makati. What is the elevated U-turn’s reason for being? Basically, to ease traffic flow. Got it. Now, what steps can we take to make eased traffic flow a reality? Widen the road. Or offer an alternative route. Or close down the intersection. Better yet, all of the above.

Personally, I think the good-meaning chairman thought of option number two. I’m hoping he’s already thought of and is still considering option number three. I think he totally disregarded option number one. And, well, I think option number four is nowhere in his sight.

See, when the first phase of the elevated U-turn was being constructed, more than one backseat driver pointed out the futility of the entire effort. And guess what? I was among the first to actually blurt out on paper, “let’s give it a chance”. This is so precisely because I have seen how it works in Thailand. Back there, the elevated U-turns are built along four lane highways. But they don’t intrude into any of the main thoroughfares’ lanes. What you do, in order to get to the elevated U-turns, is go into an exit right beside the outermost lane. You then get back on the other side of the road also via a lane constructed specifically not to impede on traffic flow. Think North Luzon Tollway exits and you might get the drift.

The way this little experiment along C-5 turned out, however, is quite disastrous. It is disastrous because the structures eat up part of the main thoroughfares, hence creating bottlenecks on both sides. So instead of creating alternate routes which don’t impede, what we have are structures that tend to narrow traffic flow and at times contribute to creating standstills.

I had a chat with James Deakin about the elevated U-turn the other day. Our columnist asked – rhetorically, of course – what was so wrong with constructing an ordinary fly-over, to begin with. We stared blankly at each other for a good thirty seconds before I slapped him without saying a word. I mean, come on. Who cares about simple, straightforward and proven solutions? Why go for what is proven to work? Where’s the sense of legacy in that? Which brings us to another point altogether. For some reason, our good chairman is obsessed. He’s obsessed with U-turns and the color pink. I think he obsesses over them because he wants to leave a lasting legacy. Whatever kind of legacy, though, is really up in the air.

There is an argument that all this is temporary and that in due time, when all the construction is over, the little elevated U-turn experiment will prove to be a success. In truth, I would love to have the good chairman save a copy of this gripe and use it to slap my face silly if he’s able to pull off what seems to the impossible dream at the moment. But I’m merely being a realist. The way things are going, and the way the structure is shaping up, I’m already getting disheartened.

The elevated U-turn at C-5 is the current bane of my existence. It is so because thus far it has not presented a viable solution to the traffic woes that surround me and the thousands of other motorists who regularly ply the said route (and believe me, there are many). In fact, it has made things worse. Agree? Disagree? Go ahead. Let me know what you think. I can take it. We backseat drivers have already argued incessantly about U-turns in the past. What’s another turn at the U-turn?

Hey, apparently, you Backseat Drivers love washing your own cars as much as we do! Here are some of your reactions and comments from Andy Leuterio’s “The Wash”…

It is always a joy washing your own car, how it glows and shines after washing!

I myself have a systematic way of washing my car. I too have a different set of cloths used to wash the tires and portions of the car that has mud splatters. Some car owners who wash their cars immediately wipe the car body with a dry or wet cloth. A simple tip in car washing would be to water or spray the surface of the car first before trying to wipe the car in order to take out dirt or dust that adhered to the car body. Otherwise this dirt will become a sort of sandpaper that in the long run will contribute and damage the car paint.        – papelito

It really is a different feeling washing our own cars and a gratifying feeling too seeing our very own cars shiny and buff. Washing cars even gives a great exercise. By the way can you post some tips on washing our cars, the shampoos, soaps, wax that is best to be used? – clancy 1221 (How about we let one of your co-Backseat Drivers answer that one?)

I take pride in washing my own car. Once a week lang. Once a month lang may soap, the rest water only. Iba yung feeling seeing your car shine via your own hands. Not only is it cheaper, it’s more gratifying especially if you’re OC.        – coiter

Nakakadiri pagka marumi lagi ang sasakyan mo and you take it to work. It’s like the same nga as having a soiled shirt or yung marumi sapatos mo. I myself would even go as far as going underneath the car twice a year to get it all oiled up and cleaned. It’s your way of letting your car last you long din naman. To me it’s worth the time. Like I always tell my female friends...If you’re good to it, it will be good to you too. Do you guys agree?

Now, sad to say, most girls that I know don’t care at all about their cars. Bihira kilala ko na particular sa sasakyan. They usually treat it like it’s their closet. Nagkalat ang pony tail, sapatos, make up at iba iba pang gamit nila. Parang pagka Pasko lang yata naca-carwash. To think na dapat mas maarte pa babae satin mga lalaki.        – Eedward

 Speak out, be heard and keep those text messages coming in. To say your piece and become a “Backseat Driver”, text PHILSTAR <space>FB<space>MOTORING<space>YOUR MESSAGE and send to 2840 if you’re a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber or 334 if you’re a Smart or Talk ’n Text subscriber or 2840 if you’re a Sun Cellular subscriber. Please keep your messages down to a manageable 160 characters. You may send a series of comments using the same parameters. Or you may log on to www.philstar.com and blog your comments.