The monster traffic congestion in Manila caused by some road projects have given ecology advocates yet another field day to lobby their “road sharing” plan to the riding public in Metro Cebu.
Noted environmentalist lawyer Antonio Oposa shared his views on the subject and announced that a “road sharing day” will be held on March 30 or a few days into the annual Earth Day observance. We cannot help but compare the two previous editions of that activity.
The first time a road-sharing activity was held was three years ago, when a long stretch of Osmeña Boulevard was shunted off from motorists and passenger jeepneys to allow skateboarders, cyclists and pedestrians free access to the area on a Sunday when the number of motor vehicles are usually lower due to it being a rest day.
Emboldened by the success of that activity, the ecology advocates held another vehicle-free day this time, somewhere near the Colon area on a Saturday and it had somewhat disastrous results.
The organizers failed to consider or were not told by traffic authorities that a mass wedding was scheduled on that day and the procession bogged down after a substantial road area was cordoned off for cyclists, skateboarders and others to play around in.
Naturally, a lot of people were inconvenienced and that “road-sharing” activity drew not just flak but contempt from average city residents, who ventilated their complaints on radio and questioned why substantial areas of the road be cordoned off for a few people to monopolize while commuters who had to work or were attending to appointments would be denied access to the roads.
What it all boils down to is of course, coordination, information and education and a lot of lobbying on the part of the organizers. After all it is supposed to be a “road-sharing” activity and it is incumbent upon the organizers to exert every effort to inform and persuade the public to join or at least understand and accommodate this program.
The objective is of course laudable but given the existing road infrastructure, the campaign is a continuing, even painful process of mobilizing public support to require government to build better roads that would accommodate bicycle lanes and regulate the flow of private vehicles which hog the roads along with public utility vehicles.
Until that time comes, it’s best for “road-sharing” organizers to tap local government agencies and even the media in informing the public and plead for their cooperation to make the activity yet another success. Of course, it goes without saying that it’s better to hold it on a Sunday or any holiday for that matter.