87% of Filipinos see better roads if public transport, bikers prioritized

Eighty-seven percent of Filipinos believe that roads in the towns and cities will be better off if public transportation, pedestrians and bicycles are given priority over private vehicles, a Social Weather Stations survey has indicated.

Responses to questions on public and alternative transportation sponsored by the Department of Health also showed that 85% of Filipinos agreed that it was possible for their cities and towns "to become a great place for walking and cycling."

The questions were included in the SWS' Fourth Quarter 2020 Social Weather Survey, the first in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which was conducted from November 21-25, 2020.

It used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 600 in Balance Luzon and 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. The sampling error margins are ±2.5% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The survey found that 6% of the respondents disagreed that “the roads in Philippine cities and municipalities will be better off if public transportation, bicycles, and pedestrians are given priority over private vehicles.”

Seven percent were undecided.

The SWS said there was "a very strong" net agreement of +81 with the statement. 

The survey found 85% of Filipino adults agreeing, 7% undecided, and 8% disagreeing that

On the statement that it was possible for their cities and towns to become a great place for walking and cycling, eight percent of the respondents disagreed. Seven percent were undecided.

This resulted in a net agreement score of +77, which was classified by SWS as very strong.

The SWS terminology for net agreement: +50 and above, “Very strong”; +30 to +49, “Strong”; +10 to +29, “Moderate”, +9 to -9, “Neutral”; -10 to -29, “Poor”; -30 to -49, “Weak”; -50 and below, “Very weak”. -NB, GMA News