Designing the modern PUJ
As a way to start the jeepney modernization program, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board conducted last week a modern public utility jeepney (PUJ) roadshow in time for Cebu City’s 81st Charter Day celebration.
It was touted as a window to Cebu’s future public transport industry, seen to be reliable, efficient, and environmentfriendly. It is good that the LTFRB is moving ahead with this program, although I would like to think that this is still at the trial or prototype stage.
The militant section of the transport sector represented by Piston has relentlessly opposed this kind of modernization effort, contending that it will result to increased fares and loss of livelihood for many PUJ drivers.
However, Piston’s protestations in the form of rallies and strikes, has so far panned out rather weakly among the riding public. Piston’s main contentions should not be ignored, though. But the group should also consider why the general public perceives their cause as holding on to the status quo that is keeping us from achieving our goals.
Efforts to modernize our public transportation system focus on the design and manufacturing of the modern jeepney. Referring to LTFRB-7’s roadshow last week, Director Ahmed Cuizon talked about the excitement felt by jeepney operators and the riding public about the prospects of a modern PUJ.
Such excitement, however, may overlook the reality that in designing the modern PUJ in particular and transport system in general, it is basic to study the riding public and their quality of life first. What this means is that we should be careful about embracing modernity merely based on assumptions and standards set by manufacturers and other interested parties.
It’s quite neat to assert that a modern public transportation system should be reliable, efficient and environment-friendly. That one sounds like straight from streets of Hong Kong or the subway transits of Singapore. And we’re looking toward safety and comfort as well. But overall, we should also be looking into the costs to the riding public and the totality of their experience with current and future models.
Except for the Bus Rapid Transit which will basically be confined in one major route, I have neither read nor heard so far about studies that form the basis of the design of modern PUJ or public transportation model. All design models seem to be based on assumptions like the one which says a more comfortable ride will encourage more passengers to take the modern PUJ.
Seems logical, but from a user-centered and culturallyappropriate design perspective, other factors could override that assumption. Foremost among them is the need for low cost mobility. Then there is the demand for access and circulation of open windows and rear door design, as well as the cultural familiarity to a vibrant and multicolored exterior aesthetics -elements that seem lacking in the modern prototypes.
The transition towards a modern public transportation system is as complex as it is challenging, let alone if it is based mainly on the perspectives of only a few stakeholders. It is, thus, important that we use an iterative design strategy that looks at what makes the current jeepney popular then adjust it to the higher level of the public transportation service we aim to achieve.
There’s a design principle which states: “All design activity is ultimately social in nature, and any social innovation will bring us back to the ‘human-centric point of view’.”