CBRT and more: along-overdue ride forward

The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) finally began operating yesterday, although only partially, with at least 17 CeBus units, according to news reports. The buses will travel from Il Corso to IT Park, using the only dedicated lanes so far, along Osmeña Boulevard, which forms Package 1 of the project.

With the implementation of the CBRT also comes a need for political will from our leaders, as well as a shift away from the car-centric mindset of many people. I hope, therefore, that Package 1’s median lanes along N. Bacalso Avenue and Osmeña Boulevard will truly remain closed to general traffic and be reserved exclusively for CeBus units.

This may take time for the general public to accept, but if the system is executed well, I am confident that people will eventually see the benefits of the CBRT compared with roads clogged by private vehicles, whether or not dedicated CBRT lanes are in place. It also helps that CBRT rides will be free for a while under the Department of Transportation’s Libreng Sakay program, as this will encourage people to experience for themselves the convenience of riding the CBRT.

Though long overdue, the launch of CBRT operations also comes at a fitting moment, amid the steep rise in fuel prices caused by the crisis in the Middle East, which may make car owners more receptive to public transport. I have noticed a considerable decrease in the number of private vehicles on our roads this week, perhaps because people are tightening their belts and avoiding unnecessary travel.

Over a month ago, Cebu also welcomed the introduction of Green GSM electric taxis, or e-GSM, giving commuters more options for comfortable and reasonably-priced travel. For car owners, it means less need to use their cars, which would otherwise require parking space and add to the number of vehicles competing for road space.

There were well-meaning efforts to suspend their commercial operations due to the need for consultation and further study, but as they say, once people begin to see the benefits, it becomes difficult to reverse the rollout of e-GSM taxis. The convenience of hailing the distinctive cyan-green taxi on the street or booking it through an app on your mobile phone is difficult for traditional taxis to match. It is also quiet because it is electric, and being new, it looks and smells clean.

I hope the innovative features of e-GSM will also find their way into the CBRT. What I mean is that the whole ride experience should be as seamless as possible. For example, I am not aware of any active e-payment card system currently being used by public buses in Cebu. Card-based e-payment technology can hardly be considered innovative, given that it has already been in real-world mass use in many cities around the world for about 30 years; but if implemented, it would still be something new for Cebuanos.

That is how far behind we are in mass transport innovation because we clung too long to the traditional jeepney model, which emerged from the post-World War II scarcity of public transport, and then romanticized it as part of our cultural heritage.

Considering that a card-based e-payment system, despite its convenience and usefulness, may not be readily accepted by many people who still trust cash more than money stored in e-cards, a hybrid approach seems more sensible at this stage. E-payment should be introduced, but commuters should still be allowed to pay in cash, coins, or through ticket-based methods. This gives people the chance to gradually get used to e-payment until trust in the system grows strong enough for wider adoption.

Another innovative feature that could help more people ease into using the CBRT is the installation of modern bus stops or waiting areas beyond Package 1, while we await the delayed implementation of Packages 2 and 3, if they are ever realized. These bus waiting areas should be brighter, safer, more accessible, and more convenient, especially for children and senior citizens. They should also have real-time passenger information displays. In a hot and humid climate like ours, protection from heat and rain is important. As much as possible, bus stops should be located with commuters’ comfort and convenience in mind, so they are shielded from the elements and do not have to walk long distances from their offices, schools, or shops.

These would all be worthwhile investments in public infrastructure that genuinely serve the welfare of our people.