Prioritizing people, nature, history & culture

In the light of the present prevailing conflicting views about the proposed flyovers, us to convey the highlights of the statement from the STOP CEBU FLYOVERS ([email protected] ). 

 They are asking all Cebuanos especially to:

 “REVIEW THE ALTERNATIVES. Why is there such a hurry to build the flyovers?

 RETHINK the fundamental assumptions & choices first, to be able to establish the valid basis decisions of magnitude. The community has to be part of the decision making process. Our group not against flyovers. But surely haste makes waste!

 There are many real alternatives that must be properly considered BEFORE building flyovers.

 Our group proposes that ‘In the context of an integrated sustainability design or masterplan  for the Metro Cebu, that includes a viable urban mobility plan, flyovers can have their own place and value, but not as they are being proposed at Gorordo Avenue, MJ Cuenco and Mandaue. Our daily commuting experience manifests that the flyovers already in place cause more traffic problems than they resolve.’ 

  …Surely, there are other solutions that need to be seriously considered, that may even be cheaper, faster without permanently damaging the historical cultural value of our city, our environment, without destroying the essence of life in the community.“

 There are many alternatives & solutions, ranging from the: TECHNICAL: flared intersections, widening, roundabouts, alternate routes,TECHNICAL: reduce vehicles on the road through “coding”, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, fixing/recalibration traffic lights, pre paid point to point jeepneys with properly positioned jeepney stops…

  SHORT TERM (1day-1year): car pooling, school bus terminals to decongest school areas, use of point to point buses only (no jeepneys) on main roads during peak hours, pedestrian only areas (especially in tighter areas during peak hours) like in front of Sto Niño Basilica, taxi stations, fast road incident resolution process (use of digicams), etc.

 MEDIUM TERM (1-3 years): congestion charging, dedicated bike lanes, community based sidewalk development (like the project of the Kahayag group)

  LONG TERM: (3-7 years) INTER-CITY CONTIGUOUS MASTERPLAN for a mass transit system: on road & on water…

(it is) IMPORTANT that the bigger community of Metro Cebu REALIZE that the issue is not just about FLYOVERS, but about our URBAN MOBILITY, about how we can MAKE LIFE BETTER for ourselves in a long term way. The Flyover Debate CONCERNS ALL OF US, who care about Cebu, and its future. Building flyovers as a temporary solution is a MISMATCH, as it is a major & permanent infrastructure development with a huge price tag (for people, for nature, for history & for culture).

 STOP FLYOVERS. REVIEW THE ALTERNATIVES.

 Finally, we have to seriously RETHINK the context & basis for choosing among the alternatives.

 How do we envision Cebu? More like (congested) Manila or Bangkok? Or more like (sustainable) Bogota or Curitiba?

 Do we want to give more space & funds for cars means more flyovers, ever widening roads, etc?

 Or (do we want) more space & funds for people? True useable sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, urban green open spaces (and more...).

 In what way can the alternatives contribute to making our hometown Cebu more LIVABLE?  Cleaner air, less congested, safer for children & persons with disability, less stressful where commuting is easy and fun, with green urban spaces where we can interact with each other? In what way can the alternatives contribute to making our hometown Cebu more SUSTAINABLE?

 “This is now THE OPPORTUNITY for US to make a fundamental choice for OUR FUTURE.”

 Like a person who is experiencing the symptoms of an unhealthy lifestyle, with high cholesterol levels, the heart may end up with a blocked valve, and require a bypass to save his/her life. But without a change of lifestyle, even the bypass will get clogged as well.

  The flyover is like a heart bypass for our cities but it is plainly a temporary solution.

 What we need is a lifestyle change as a community of cities and people: Bold moves & Concerted effort.”

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Email: [email protected]