OBLIQUE OBSERVATIONS
By Atty. Gilberto Lauengco, J.D.
Recently, a transport advocate urged the government to put a dedicated bus lane on Commonwealth Avenue which is located in Quezon City and also known as one of the country’s busiest roads. Some have even suggested that the bus lane extend from the said avenue to QC Memorial Circle then all the way to Quezon Avenue.
This suggestion has sparked a new round of debate regarding bus lanes in general. Last month, a congressman drew the ire of many netizens when he publicly questioned the practicality of bus lanes. Apparently, the said district representative was stuck in traffic for several hours in EDSA and noticed that there were only a few buses on the bus lane at that moment. He then stated in his now famous post that the bus lane should be opened to private motorists during heavy traffic to ease the traffic. This post resulted in severe backlash against the congressman with many netizens accusing him of being entitled or “privileged”.
With the recent news concerning the bus lane, many have again opened the discussion about the said bus lanes. Some have taken to question the existence of a dedicated bus lane operating the whole day stating that this is quite unfair for private motorists. Understandably, when one is on a car or a motorcycle during a standstill traffic it is difficult to look at buses whizzing past your vehicles. Sometimes, the temptation is so great that many motorists break the law and traverse the bus lanes. Even now, we still see several cars and motorcycles going in and out of the bus lanes hoping that they could elude the law enforcers. With the Christmas season fast approaching, the onset of even worse traffic is imminent. In addition, the scheduled rehabilitation of Guadalupe Bridge in EDSA late next year is sure to add to the woes of motorists in Metro Manila.
Unfortunately for those wishing for a revision of the bus lanes protocol, bus lanes are here to stay. There is absolutely no cogent reason for the government to remove or even lessen the implementation of the said bus lane system. The suggestion of some sectors to manage the bus lane during certain hours similar to the zipper lane concept have met with opposition stating that such tinkering of the bus lane would cause a slowdown of the traffic in the bus lanes. In fact, transport authorities are suggesting that exemptions to the said rule be even pruned down to a bare minimum and that more draconian and stringent implementation of the same be imposed. Transport authorities insist that bus lanes serve more people, remove buses from the other lanes, lessen motorists on major thoroughfares through attrition and has the net effect of decongesting traffic.
In the end, the issue of the bus lane is one of equity. People who use cars or even motorcycles have several advantages over the public transport riders. It is but right that the riders be given a faster and more efficient mode of transportation. It is also a matter of getting more people to their destination on time so they can work and sufficiently contribute to economy.
Bus lanes however are just part of the puzzle. New roads, skyways, bridges, other modes of public transport are being built. Even these will not solve the entire problem. Improving cities outside Metro Manila to encourage people to go outside must follow.
Inevitably, while solutions are being done or planned our society and way of working will probably have to adapt. Work from home or alternative modes of working are beginning to take root. People are beginning to work more within their side of the big river that cuts across the city. The so-called “tawid ilog” activities will begin to lessen. Soon, Metro Manila will probably be truly divided between those north and south of the river.
This is my oblique observation.
