13 Ways to Solve the Traffic Problem in Manila

Photo from here

If there is one problem in Manila that haven’t been solved yet it would be the traffic.  Everyday people have to battle it out with the traffic, pollution, and heat as they go on commutes. They allot two hours just to arrive on time on their work places which is just about 2 kilometers away, bring a facial wash to remove all the dirt from their pores, and ingest extra fluids to prevent dehydration.

Clearly, there is exists a need for one thing: a more effective transportation system.

 While I am completely clueless about the traffic system and the different measures currently implemented to solve the problem, I would like to give my take on this problem, counting only on my experience as a commuter in the last four years.

Let me start by saying that the main problem of a traffic jam is that the cars move slowly, or hardly move at all. That’s not really rocket science. So now I shift my focus first to solving the different causes why these cars move so slow. Here are some ideas that could help:

• Ban street vendors who sell cigarette, candies, drinks, newspapers to drivers
• Ensure an adequate supply of coin denominations so that drives would not have to do small talk to another driver, asking for a change
• Utilize the pedestrian lanes and arrest the jaywalkers!

The secondary problem is caused by the people themselves. They alight and board whenever they want to. Some are just plainly lazy that they want their butts to move only when on the exact spot where they are going.

• There should be designated loading points like the ones in train stations. Nothing causes traffic more than a greedy jeepney driver who wants all the passengers for himself.
• If the place where you’re alighting to is just a street or two away from where a passenger is about to go down. Please do the whole Philippines a favor by alighting as well. It gives you good exercise and prevents unnecessary stopping of the jeep from one street to the next.
• People should start sitting from the place nearest the driver to allow the people to board the jeepney faster. Faster boarding time equals less time spent idle in the middle of the road waiting for someone to be seated.

The next problem that needs to be addressed to have a better transportation system is the legislation regarding the use of the roads.

• Buses must not be allowed to switch from one lane or another. They’re too long and causes much traffic if always done.
• There must be a strict demarcation on the lanes. I suggest that in a three lane road, the innermost would contain the private vehicles, the middle lane having the freely moving PUV, while those at the outermost are for the ones who pick up passengers.

Traffic cannot be attributed to a lone entity. It needs a multi-factorial approach which do not only aim to address the ways which people ought to follow but more so how these ways will be implemented by the government.

• Train the traffic enforcers better. I’ve seen Vito Cruz at around noon on times with/without traffic enforcers and the situation is just the same
• Have wider roads and if needed, more flyovers to avoid traffic prone areas

The last problem I think is the road-vehicle proportion mismatch. We have too many cars and few good roads. Here are some suggested solutions:

• Increase the prices of cars so that only few will be on the road (This sounds elitist but it might just work)
• Implement a more selective coding scheme
• Strongly implement the provisions stated in the Clean Air Act which includes the banning of smoke-belching cars

Do you still have ideas in mind to solve the traffic problem?