Pilot of road sharing in Capitol streets aims to decongest traffic

Environment lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. (right) shows a model of a future road sharing setup with 1/3 space each for a mass transit train, sidewalks and road for vehicles in the board room of the Cebu Chambers of Commerce and Industry. A pilot scheme to share half the road with motorists and pedestrians will be tried next month on Osmena Boulevard leading to the Capitol. (CDN POHOTO/LITO TECSON)

A road sharing experiment will have motorists travelling beside pedestrians and bikers in the heart of Cebu City every Sunday starting late September.

The initiative to decongest Metro Cebu’s streets was unveiled yesterday by environment lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. and supporters in the government and private sector.

The pilot for the first “green loop” will involve B. Rodriguez Street through Fuente Osmeña, the whole stretch of General Maxilom Avenue (Mango Avenue), and portions of Gorordo Avenue, Escario Street through the Capitol compound.

The two-lane roads will use half to accommodate motor vehicles in the inner lane, and allow people to walk, bike or skate on the outer lane.

The plan has the support of Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) executive director Rafael Yap, who said he will work closely with transport groups and Oposa to ensure its success.

GREEN LOOP PLAN

The experiment is part of a larger 2014 Green Loop Plan of Cebu designed by students and mentors of the University of San Carlos College of Architecture and Fine Arts (USC-CAFA) in cooperation with Cebu experts in urban planning, landscape architecture, environmental science, environmental law and community orgnaizing.

Highlights were presented by Dean Joseph Michael “Yumi” Espina in yesterday’s press conference.

He said this long-term development plan for the province aims to ensure sustainable growth by establishing major economic hubs in towns and cities in the north and south of Cebu.

Part of the plan calls for a mass transit, bike lanes, urban gardens and lighted sidewalks powered by solar energy.

With this, people from far-flung towns would no longer flock to the city looking for jobs.

The development model is also a way to decongest Cebu City and urban areas of traffic through fewer cars, wider sidewalks and permanent bike lanes, he said.

FOR PEOPLE FIRST

If the first “green loop” experiment draws a positive response from the public, it will be extended to Mandaue city and Cordova town in Mactan, said Oposa.

“The Green Loop is a big dream but how do we start? We’ll choose a place where we can show to the public that this can happen.”

“ After that, we can extend it again on another Sunday. Then maybe every Saturday and Sunday until the public clamors for this,” said the lawyer, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for his environment advocacy.

The pilot in late September is a modification of the June 12, 2011 Road Revolution where Osmeña Boulevard was “car-less” for a day.

The whole boulevard was taken over by people walking, biking and skating during the Independence Day holiday, when traffic was light. Vehicles were diverted to other roads.

Oposa was lead convenor of the 2011 experiment which later drew flak when a followup exercise in downtown Colon angered commuters and motorists, who were caught by surprise by sudden road closures.

This time, there’s more time to notify the public in advance.

And the road sharing proposal involves Citom and other civic leaders, like the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Oposal said the legal basis is a 2008 Executive Order 774 of the Office of the President and Administrative Order 254 of 2009.

The policies state that “The new paradigm in the movement of men and things must follow a simple principle: Those wh have less in wheels must have more in roads. for this purpose, the system shall favor non-motorized locomotion and collective transportation system (walking, bicylcling and the man-powered mini train.)”

“The Dept. of Transportation and Communication, and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways shall imediately transform roads using (this ) principle.”

Signatures were gathered yesterday for a “Declaration to Implement the Law” during the open-door meeting of stakeholders at the CCCi office.

The declaration also adopts the Green Loop Plan prepared by Cebuano experts and will be circulated for more signatures from citizens.

It said Cebu residents are deeply concerned with the worsening motor vehicle traffic congestion.
The problem cannot be solved “by adding more roads or more motor vehicles.”

The declaration called on the national and local government to implement the Green Loop Plan and set up pathways, sidewalks, bike lanes and access to an inexpensive transportation system.

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