Long-term plan
My traffic ordeal seems to be every day; the unpredictable now is predictable—there is ALWAYS traffic on Edsa.
Solutions:
- A) Remove the U-turn slots—they move the bottlenecks but only by a few yards.
- B) A decent mass transport system (MRT/LRT) so commuters can leave their cars at home
- C) No more dumping of old buses and trucks from other countries, which only break down constantly and pollute the environment
- D) A real long-term road use/construction plan with more overpasses/underpasses
- E) Abolish the MMDA (fire the MMDA chair), which offers only band-aid solutions and never accepts blame anyway.
- F) Empower the local governments to solve their traffic issues in their respective jurisdictions and devolve the MMDA budget to the LGUs.
- G) Prosecute/jail congressmen/mayors who have pocketed their PDAF that
should have gone to road/drainage construction. —Lorna Kapunan
Fix the train system
I live in Marikina City where streets are so narrow. During rush hour, I have to allot about an hour just to get to the main road like Edsa. And that’s just on normal days. If it rains then it’s chaos.
I agree, no one is exempt [from traffic]. Except maybe the politico with a hagad to lead the way.
Suggestion? Fix the bus and train system. I won’t mind taking the bus and train if they were as safe and efficient as the ones in Hong Kong and Singapore.—Barbie Salvador
Rules on car ownership
On my way to work on a Monday morning a bus tried to cut [in front of us] three times. Super reckless driver.
Recently I also got stuck on Edsa for three hours from MOA to Kapitolyo, Pasig.
How to solve Manila traffic? Owning a car should have rules. You can have a car only if you have a garage or a parking space. Roads should be fixed.—Isabella Manjon
Be strict
I’ve been driving for four years now and I cannot cite the most horrendous traffic experience I’ve had. Every day is horrendous.
The best ways to ease traffic is to fix the public transportation system, keep ill-maintained vehicles off the road, and be resolute in dealing with traffic violations. Of course, roads should be wider and better maintained but I think that should come after the first three are fixed.—Ralph Tee Ten
Bike lanes
I live in Makati and study at UP Diliman so I have accepted traffic as part of daily life. I think it would cost a very small amount to build a two-way bike lane along Edsa, perhaps above the MRT line.
I would love to bike to UP every day if I could just do so without having to share the road with cars.—Lex Ledesma
Less cars
Less cars, period. Government should take over public transport and unionize the jeepneys.
Build roads that take into account the harsh weather and use materials that fit the bill.
And make everyone’s safety a priority on the buses, cabs, jeeps, everywhere. Citizens deserve as much.—Aimee Marcos
Like NY, London
We need a better transport system, like the kind New York and London have, a transport system so good and so safe that we wouldn’t need to take cars everywhere. But I’m sure that building the structure for that would cause even more traffic for years.
I don’t know, I’m really at a loss. I don’t think we will see the end of traffic in this lifetime.—Chris Santos
Like a bad haircut
I just avoid Edsa like a bad haircut unless I can sleep and not worry about traffic.—Diana Sayson
Carpool
People need to learn how to drive and know the rules. And maybe carpool more to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. —Dyn Bourret
More trains
I think we should lessen the number of buses on the road. It should be regulated by government.
Bus lanes should also be strictly implemented and buses should stop/pick up passengers only at designated stops.
Also, have more trains (running at one to four minute intervals on peak hours; increase the fares (so we could get more trains); and install ticket-vending machines in train stations so there won’t be long lines anymore.
More people riding more trains would ease the number of cars on the road, which means less traffic jams.
It would be awesome, too, if more people bike their way to work (this calls for bike lanes) but they just have to bear the hot and humid weather.— Dani Salasan
Elevated highways
If road widening is out of the question, it’s about time the government added elevated highways to accommodate private vehicles.
I think having strategically placed railways would do this country a world of good; we should take cues from Department of Science and Technology’s “Road Train.” We need to think of long-term solutions and keep in mind that in cases like this, the end justifies the means.— Jenny Ferrer
Safe and reliable public transportation system
The idealist in me wishes we were more like Singapore and that our public transportation system is safe and reliable enough to be used daily by people from all walks of life. If it were, more people would opt for it.—Carla Bianca Ravanes
Alphabetical coding
First things first, every driver needs to learn and practice discipline and common road courtesy. A lot of the problems could be alleviated if every driver had the decency to use turn signals.
The use of U turn slots is an excellent idea and works like a charm in other countries! The reason it works is because every driver is disciplined.
Here, every driver is trying to get in front of the other guy and then still another guy. Crab mentality never does anyone any good!
Next, an alphabetical coding scheme, rather than the current system, would certainly decongest the roads. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, so if an alphabetized system were to be implemented, the traffic situation would show immediate results. That system is sure to upset people, but when they see the results, they might embrace it!
Finally, the people in public office need to get down to the grass roots and do the research themselves. Their city planning and constant road construction seem to be an after-thought—“Let’s see if this works!”
It’s asking a lot, but people in power need to experience these traffic problems themselves. Let’s see if they would be able to deal with it for more than a month during the rainy season.—Bennii Obaña
Concrete barriers
I take both Edsa and C5 during my work commute. Edsa has chokepoints caused by undisciplined bus drivers. Notice what I mean when you get to Guadalupe and Edsa Central. Two lanes approaching, a sudden mad scramble ensues to overtake (using as many as four lanes!), only to cut the entire bus lane diving for the passengers by the bus stop. This clogs up lanes for buses and cars, which then disrupts the flow of vehicles.
C5 is the same, except the chokepoints are caused by cars either exiting the BGC area north bound, the Pasig exit after the Pasig river bridge (single-lane exit being turned into four lanes!).
Put up concrete barricades 500 meters before the bus stop or exit. See the way SLEX has a semblance of order? —Noel Nieva