‘Motor lane in CSCR’
TO make the area safer for motorists, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants motorcycle lanes at the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR).
The move is an offshoot to the accident that happened at the CSCR last Tuesday afternoon that resulted in the death of Dutchman Herald Heinz Walter.
The 55-year-old was heading south when his motorcycle bumped into a cement mixer truck. He was ran over by the big vehicle.
The City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) said the driver drove more than the 40 kph speed limit at the CSCR.
In an interview, Rama said he wants the motorcycle lane at the CSCR implemented the soonest time.
Citom operations division head Joy Tumulak said they are coordinating the matter with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7. CSCR is under the custody of the DPWH being a national road.
Based on existing national laws, though, Tumulak said the rightmost lane in any national road is the area designated for motorcycles.
Aside from the motorcycle lanes, the mayor reminded Citom and DPWH 7 on the need to implement speed control measures at the CSCR, such as rumble stripes, road markings with reflectors and flashing caution lights so vehicles will slow down while using the area.
The mayor wanted this in place last month yet.
He also wants the reduced speed limit to be strictly implemented. Previously, the speed limit at the CSCR is 60 kph.
Asked if he would still want all motorcycles to be banned from using the CSCR following the recent accident, Rama said a study should be conducted regarding the matter.
“I am not saying that motorcycles can no longer pass. A study should be made on that certain area kung pwede lang motor with this specific kind of engine or if we can just put a motorcycle lane,” he said.
Asked if he would still pursue his plan to close the CSCR if all the road safety measures in the area will not be soon in place, Rama said closure of the road will not solve the problem at the moment.
For the past 26 days that the new speed limit at CSCR has been implemented, Citom had recorded 25 vehicular accidents with one resulting to death.