EDSA needs better sidewalks for bus lanes to work!
The Department of Transportation should be lauded for their effort in establishing a Bus Rapid Transit system along Metro Manila’s busiest artery, EDSA. The new bus routes at the innermost lanes of EDSA makes traffic flow along the busy highway smoother.
It has long been a dream of this writer that our bus system be rationalized to better serve our commuters. Without a massive light rail system in the metropolis, the bus is still the better mode of public transport for majority of our workers who come into the nations capital daily.
The previous system, what we in the motoring media call the “walis system” is not effective anymore because buses essentially “sweep” EDSA from North to South and vice-versa while picking up and dropping off passengers at any point along the road.
Having a designated lane in the middle of the road prevents undisciplined commuters from flagging buses at random point on the highway. It also allows for a scheduled bus service since the stops are regular and fixed.
Now that the commuters have definite places to wait for their bus rides, they only need to walk to their designated stops to hop onto their bus.
But wait!
EDSA has almost no sidewalk!
And that is the next problem. The DOTr and Public Works will now need to work together to deliver a better walking atmosphere to augment the new bus stop only mode of bus rides in the metropolis.
Because we cannot ask our commuters to use the new bus stops in the middle of the highway if they have no way of walking over there. I am assuming that commuters will need to walk to the MRT-3 stations or the overpass walkways to access the new bus lanes.
But without a proper, rational sidewalk network, how does the DOTr and the DPWH and even the MMDA, expect our commuters to access the bus stops. They cannot be walking on the road. This is dangerous and will still cause traffic.
So I am throwing this question to our dear transport executives, are we going to see sidewalk development along EDSA soon?
Marketing at Telum Media • Newsletter Editor • Workplace culture champion • ex-LinkedIn
4yAgree on an improved bus system. It's a cheaper and faster way to improve public transport in Metro Manila. When I was in Indonesia, my eyes were watery seeing the TransJakarta rapid transport system of buses. But yes agree, none of this is possible without sidewalks and pedestrian overpasses to keep commuters safe!