EDITORIAL - Why not have motorcycle lanes in the city?

While the crackdown ordered by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña against counter-flowing was directed against all types of vehicles, it was to a large extent aimed at motorcycles. For motorcyclists are the main violators of the rule on running against the flow of traffic. The crackdown was a huge success. It was widely welcomed by the public. And the campaign netted a huge number of violators. Counter-flowing, while not totally eradicated, was palpably minimized.

Not long afterward, Osmeña floated the idea of requiring motorcyclists to wear "reflectorized" vests, or vests that had strips of luminous reflectors, to add to the visibility of motorcyclists when driving at night. Clearly the purpose was to attain added safety on the road. But while counter-flowing got no real complaints from motorcyclists who probably agreed they were in the wrong, this time the idea did not sit well with them.

And this time it may be for good measure. The plan would entail an expense the motorcyclists are not willing to shoulder. Quickly, Osmeña admitted it was a bad idea and dropped it. Besides, it is not such a good proposition to antagonize a sector whose numbers are certainly in the tens of thousands with local elections just around the corner.

But all is not lost if Osmeña truly has road safety in his mind, especially when it comes to motorcycles. Always quick to consider Cebu City as a cosmopolitan world-class city, the mayor nevertheless fails to apparently see that unlike most cosmopolitan world-class cities, Cebu City is one of the few that does not have a lane dedicated solely for motorcycles.

Most cities even just in the region have them and Osmeña is well-travelled enough to make it unnecessary for these cities to be enumerated to him. He knows. It is therefore respectfully suggested that he gives the thought of putting up motorcycle lanes in Cebu City some consideration. Motorcycle lanes will address the twin problems of safety and counter-flowing.

These motorcycle lanes need not be imposed in all city streets as many may not be wide enough to accommodate them. But these dedicated lanes are clearly very possible in the major thoroughfares where speeds are higher and, therefore, the chances of accidents are greater. It is truly about time that a cosmopolitan world class city like Cebu City finally joins the rest of its peers in having its own dedicated motorcycle lanes.