If MMDA hesitates, we all lose
THERE is a saying that “he who hesitates is lost.” Today, as all of us confront the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, we need key officials and agencies to take decisive action. If they hesitate, if they fail to act, all will suffer. Some may be seriously injured; others may lose their lives.
For some time now, many different sectors have called on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to lead the creation of networks of safe walking and cycling corridors in the National Capital Region. The fundamental reason is that public transport would be in very short supply due to the requirements for physical distancing.
Once the metropolis moves into general community quarantine (GCQ), hundreds of thousands will have no option except to walk or use a bicycle to get to their destinations. Without protected space for “active” transport, many who walk or cycle will be in danger of collision with private motor vehicles.
Transportation experts have made projections of how many trips would need to be made by walking and cycling as travel demand resumes under GCQ, simply because the public transport system will not be able to handle the number of commuters. The numbers are staggering.
Before the pandemic, travel demand was estimated at 14.6 million trips daily in Metro Manila. If 30 percent of this demand resumes under GCQ, the number of commuters that would have no option but walking or cycling would be about 250,000. If 50 percent resumes, close to 800,000 commuters would have no option except walking or cycling. If 60 percent, over 1 million. If these pedestrians or cyclists are not provided with safe, protected pathways, they will spill into the car lanes and run the risk of being hit.
A month ago, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) called on all national and local government units to set up protected bike lanes and bike-only roads in all localities. Two weeks ago, the Department of Health reinforced this message with a draft joint administrative order asking that bicycle lanes be established as soon as possible in every urban community.
On May 28, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced that his department would require local government units to establish bike lanes in all thoroughfares. That same day, Sen. Pia Cayetano and House representative Edgar Sarmiento held separate hearings in the Senate and House, respectively, to review cycling-related bills and to call attention to the urgent need to support “active” or nonmotorized transport.
Many other countries, facing similar reductions in public transport capacity, are making the promotion of walking and cycling their top priority. The United Kingdom has announced a £2-billion package to develop wider sidewalks, “pop- up” cycling lanes and bicycle-only and bus-only corridors. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declared a “golden age of cycling.” Singapore plans to spend S$ 1 billion for walking and cycling infrastructure, including 800 kilometers of cycling paths by 2023. Many other cities are working double time to put new biking infrastructure in place: Paris ( 650 kms), Rome ( 150 kms), Bogota ( 76 kms), Milan (35 kms) and Barcelona (21 kms).
Sadly, over the past several months, the MMDA has stayed silent about its response to Covid-19. Instead of coordinating with the 17 Metro Manila LGUs to create a continuous network of safe cycling lanes, the agency has remained tentative and noncommittal about the need for any new cycle paths.
By failing to act, the MMDA has chosen to preserve the priority given to private motor vehicles that occupy most of the road space in Metro Manila. By maintaining the status quo, the MMDA has determined that the welfare of the vast majority who rely on public transport, walking or cycling should give way to the 12 percent of households that have cars.
The MMDA appears blind to the fact that the privileged few who have cars already have the means for physical distancing, and that those without cars are vulnerable and deserving of protection. The MMDA seems to ignore the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to pursue “the greatest good for the greatest number.”
The MMDA may have forgotten the directives under the National Transport Policy that state: “Inclusive mobility and accessibility shall be achieved through the prioritization of people-mobility over vehicle- mobility. In line with global best practices, public transport and shared transport modes will have priority in the use of public assets, including roads of all kinds. In addition, provision for nonmotorized and active transport, such as walking and cycling, shall be incorporated in the design and implementation of transport projects.” (Section 12.9 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Transport Policy.)
In this time of crisis, our country needs a metropolitan authority that can assess the options and take decisive action. It should not require a serious injury or a fatality to befall a cyclist or pedestrian before the MMDA does the right thing.