DOTC exec wants less car, more bikes on EDSA

Less cars, more bikes on EDSA.

This is the proposal of Transportation undersecretary Dante Lantin, as he noted that ongoing and scheduled road repairs in portions of EDSA, coupled with the increasing volume of vehicles in Metro Manila, will make the 23.8-kilometer thoroughfare more notorious for heavy traffic.

“On weekend naman ay carless day,” Lantin said in an interview with GMA News reporter Bam Alegre. “In that way makakatipid sa gasolina at makaka-contribute sa pag-improve ng environment, and we can encourage more bikers.”

Lantin conceded that his suggestion may appear “wild” to the public.  

“Wild in the sense na baka ang initial reaction ng mga tao is masyadong marahas o masyadong mapusok,” he said.

Among the road construction and repairs expected to slow down vehicular traffic on EDSA are the Skyway Stage 3 project, which will connect South Luzon Expressway and North Luzon Expressway; the NAIA elevated expressway project; and the structural retrofitting of Magallanes interchange.

“Ire-retrofit natin itong buong ito, north and southbound ng Magallanes flyover. Papalitan 'yung existing expansion joint, papalitan natin ng hindi slippery,” said Rey Tagudando, head of the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority head Francis Tolentino said there was a 15-percent increase in the volume of vehicle passing through EDSA from 2012 to 2013.

“Nari-reach natin ang 100,000 vehicle volume sa EDSA, 10:30 pa lang ng umaga,” he said.

The MMDA has earlier put up bike lanes to encourage people to use bicycles.

The implementation of carless days is not new. It has been implemented before in Philippine Army camps and in Pasig City. Marikina has also set up its own bike lanes.

The proposal to have a carless day in Metro Manila had been made as early as 2000. — Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News