Pedestrians lament being eased out of sidewalks by vehicles

Some pedestrians lamented being eased out of sidewalks by vehicles in General Trias, Cavite, according to Marisol Abdurahman’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday.

In Arnaldo Road, General Trias, Cavite,  motorcycles and jeepneys pass through the sidewalks along Arnaldo Road, General Trias, Cavite to avoid traffic based on the video captured by teacher Dietricht Asuncion.

There was a traffic in the area due to the ongoing road construction.

Pedestrians said that this was the common practice of the motorists and jeepney drivers to avoid traffic in the area.

“Minsan po nadaan sila dito para po makasingit, tumatabi na lang po kami para hindi po kami masagasaan ng mga sasakyan na dumadaan,” pedestrian John Lloyd Bandosa said.

(Sometimes they pass by here, we just step aside so we would not be hit.)

“Pinapatabi po nila ako (The drivers tell me to let them pass),” a pedestrian said.

“Sanay naman na po, lagi po kasi pagnapasok ng school may kasabay po (I'm used to it especially when going to school),” another pedestrian said.

Meanwhile, a student had a phobia after he got involved in an accident with a motorcycle while crossing the sidewalk.

“Nagkasalubong po kaming dalawa tapos ayun nabangga po ako. Hindi ko po inexpect na may bigla na lang dadaan sa akin. Dito na lang po ako sa gilid,” Grade 8 student Ejeve Ryuijee Kawasaki said.

(I got hit by a vehicle once.  I did not expect a vehicle to be passing here.  I always stay on the side.)

Some motorists admitted they were also using the sidewalks along Araneta Avenue.

“Traffic nang husto hindi kaya makasingit,” a motorist said.

Another motorist admitted that he got into an accident while passing on the sidewalk.

“Pagkasampa ko doon biglang tumumba yung motor ko (When I got there, my motorcycle suddenly tipped),” he said.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said any vehicles are prohibited from passing on the sidewalks since it is very dangerous.

“Kasi hindi siya road, hindi po dapat yan dinadaanan ng motorized vehicle lalong lalo na if you are endangering the safety of other road users like pedestrian,” MMDA Task Force Special Operations and Anti-Colorum Unit chief Bong Nebrija said.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News