A way to deal with the traffic problem

One way of easing traffic congestion in Cebu City, especially in downtown area, is to clean up the streets and sidewalks of vendors. Many of the busy streets around the city are narrow and the presence of ambulant vendors largely contributes to the traffic problem.

On Colon, for instance, street and sidewalk vendors force some pedestrians to just walk along the road. This hinders the traffic flow because motorists have to slow down in order not to hit the pedestrians.

This traffic problem along Colon, the country’s oldest known national road, has been going on for decades. What is sad, however, is that the local government has never been able to come up with a concrete solution.

Yes it is the lack of political will that has allowed this problem to continue. We have laws and ordinances that prohibit anyone from doing business along the streets and sidewalks since it blocks and inconveniences the pedestrians.

However, these laws and ordinances have never been properly implemented by local authorities. Since the previous administrations, it seems local officials are helpless in dealing with the traffic problem in the city.

Because street and sidewalk traders and vendors and their families constitute a huge portion of the voting population, they have become a crucial factor during elections, perhaps the reasons why some officials do not want to get their ire.

Since it entails huge cost, we can no longer widen our roads considering the countless establishments that would be affected. The best option is to build more roads and establish a modern mass transit system such as BRT and LRT.

But since funding for new transport projects does not come overnight, it will take years before the public can use any of them. That is why the local government needs to be competent enough to go for other approaches in dealing with the problem.

Clearing up the streets and sidewalks of vendors will not only help ease traffic flow but spruces up a certain area’s image as well.