Imagine

Two weeks ago, music lovers from all over the world celebrated what would have been the 70th birthday of lead Beatle, musical genius and visionary John Lennon. He who sang about using our imagination to envision a brighter future was gunned down by crazed fan Mark David Chapman almost 30 years ago – but not before leaving behind many, many gems, among them a song entitled “Imagine”. Inspired by a world intent on inflicting pain upon itself via war, Lennon wrote the song after he’d parted ways with his Beatles mates and embraced a life as a peace activist. After the almost comedic attempt by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) last week to revive a proven failed traffic management experiment, we wonder if – were he still alive – Lennon would have been inspired to write a similar ditty – this time about shooting ourselves in the foot without even resorting to war (were it not blocked by several sensible Metro Manila Mayors, it wouldn’t have been funny at all).

While the entire attempt may now be immaterial after being immediately shot down unanimously by the Metro Manila Council late last week, the fact that a revival of the Odd-Even scheme (I so abhor that word) was even proposed is alarming, to say the least. It shows the current MMDA leadership’s lack of imagination. And, perhaps even more tellingly, it shows where the government agency’s loyalties lie – with a Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) sector that has time and again proven itself to be both brash and impertinent. By “proposing” to penalize the private sector, the MMDA has taken a stand – an extremely lame one at that... Where finding a solution to Metro Manila’s traffic woes are concerned, the private sector is its obvious sacrificial lamb. Unfortunately, this is almost the exact opposite of MMDA Chaiman Tolentino’s own boss’ stand. “Kayo ang boss ko,” President Noynoy Aquino has often been quoted.

It’s such a shame, really. With its tremendous reach and all-encompassing power, the MMDA is one of the few government agencies that can immediately enact positive change. The sad thing is that in its efforts to achieve its goal of easing traffic at the soonest possible time, the MMDA is resorting to looking for shortcuts instead of exhausting efforts to find new, relevant, sensible and potentially successful solutions. Like we said... unimaginative. On so many levels.

Now, this space being what it is, we’d like to give some unsolicited advice to our “traffic czar”. Instead of wracking your brains trying to find a way to reduce vehicular volume, how about focusing instead on improving traffic flow? And seriously, there’s no need to come up with a grand scheme (there’s that ugly word again) in order to get the job done. Sometimes, a good combination of diligence and common sense is all it takes.

First off, how about cracking the whip on those erring buses? We have time and again argued that the inefficient system and illogical number of buses out on the streets is the main source of traffic along main roads like EDSA. That hasn’t changed. The worst traffic chokepoints are still those where buses are allowed to drop off and pick up passengers. Why so? Because most bus drivers refuse to toe the line. Literally.

In these bus stops (as it is in some areas of the main roads), the yellow line that is supposed to distinguish where PUVs and private vehicles stay is not just blurred – it is totally ignored. In efforts to get to their prospective passengers first, bus drivers swerve – sometimes all the way to the leftmost side of the road – then stay for a couple of minutes in lanes where they are legally not even allowed to be in. Often, there are even traffic enforcers who do nothing but wave at the buses, urging them to move. Sirs, how about stopping them from swerving to begin with? Imagine, for once, cars and buses respecting each others’ lanes... Wouldn’t that be logically sound?

Keep the buses in their lanes. Penalize, fine and jail those who insist on breaking the law for their own convenience. Keep the lanes open and you’ll naturally keep the cars (and buses, for that matter) moving. It’s that simple.

Next... In areas where there are infrastructure-caused chokepoints, station some personnel and be strict about keeping private cars in their lanes. Along the way, teach everyone the zipper method of merging. Among the main causes of traffic along several major thoroughfares are private vehicle drivers with little respect or no knowledge of proper merging procedures. If I must even point you in the direction of these miscreants then you really have no idea what’s happening out on the roads. But I really wouldn’t put that past you. So try straightening out the traffic along C-5 from the infamous elevated u-turn to the long fly-over that stretches the length of the Pasig/Bagong Ilog area. Every freaking day the traffic there is mind-boggling because the problem isn’t any form of intersection, merely an innate inability amongst private vehicle drivers to merge properly. If that’s too much of a headache – if really, you feel the need to experiment on what is guaranteed to be a zero-fail solution – then try cleaning up the EDSA to Airport Road flyover first. The cops in that area hide from the noonday sun underneath the flyover when they really ought to be managing the traffic outside of it. They don’t give a hoot about people creating bottlenecks by merging at the last second. Imagine how an ounce of prevention could be potentially so much better then a pound of cure…

Finally, if you must attack any problem at its source, re-think first what the “source” is with respect to your own jurisdiction before making any poorly thought out proposals. We’ve heard of the MMDA’s plans to curb alcohol intake because this, the agency argues, is the root cause of drunk driving accidents. Well, using simple deductive logic, I can argue that the MMDA is 100% wrong. Because while it’s true that alcohol causes drunkenness, the combined words “drunk driving” allows for two culprits – alcohol and a vehicle. In which case, just like bar owners, car manufacturers can be faulted as being sources for providing these dangerous projectiles. So what are we to do? Keep them from selling us vehicles as well? Since when does the MMDA get to impose on our freedoms?

The same argument goes for this entire perspective of penalizing those who already have vehicles. The solution should never be to keep vehicle owners from using the roads. The solution – given the MMDA’s mandate – is to help them use the roads properly. The solution is to educate them. So, if you really are committed to your job of properly managing Metro Manila’s traffic flow, get your priorities straight. Don’t bother trying to curb the road user’s freedoms. Start working to get everyone to maximize those freedoms responsibly. Come on, MMDA. Let’s see you work that magic that we’re hoping you can. I’m not discouraging you by speaking out. I’m urging you to do better. We believe that you can actually imagine a better way of solving this traffic mess that we find ourselves in on a daily basis. And… hard as it is to believe… You may say I’m a dreamer… But I’m not the only one.

My, do you guys know and love your cars! Here are a few Backseat Driver reactions to Andy Leuterio’s “Lost in Transmissions” from last week…

Sir, I believe that the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is also available in manual tranny. Two of my friends own a Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8. One with automatic transmission, the other with manual tranny. – frandrew1026

I believe Christine is a 1958 Plymouth Fury, not a Bel-Air. – 2tgcorona

Driving cars with manual transmission makes me feel one with the car. Man and Machine... – ka_dante